Indecent8217; varsity teacher faces probe

SURAT, April 16: South Gujarat University will soon institute an inquiry into the alleged misbehaviour on the part of a Linguistics teacher,...

SURAT, April 16: South Gujarat University will soon institute an inquiry into the alleged misbehaviour on the part of a Linguistics teacher, who was accused of throwing pieces of chalk at girl students and assuming indecent postures8217; while teaching in class.

Dr V K Kaul was given an ad hoc appointment in the understaffed English department after the Linguistics department was temporarily closed by the Syndicate, citing poor response from students. Dr Kaul was not given an extension after girls submitted a memorandum to the departmental head Dr Daxaben Vamdatt.

The First Year girl students of the Post Graduate Department of English threatened to boycott his class, accusing him of not only misbehaving with them but also of throwing chalk and communicating through obscene body language. Two Second Year girl students told The Indian Express that Dr Kaul8217;s behaviour was very indecent and offensive. There are only seven boys in the classroom of 50.

Dr Vamdatt said she had received several complaints againstDr Kaul and had reservations about absorbing him into the department. She said she did not hand over the memorandum to the vice-chancellor and just shared the gist with him fearing that Dr Kaul8217;s career could be ruined. She claimed she prevented students from going to the press fearing the disrepute it would bring to the department.

Dr Kaul, however, dismissed the charges against him as motivated. He said the complaint was made at the instance of Dr Vamdatt, who was 8220;overawed by his competence.8221; He said the complaint was used to prevent his entry into the department, adding some students had confided in him later but were forced to submit a memorandum.

Dr Kaul, who, along with two colleagues was served marching orders, is desperate for a job. He alleged that despite being competent enough to teach postgraduate students, he was denied the opportunity by Dr Vamdatt who suffered from an inferiority complex.

Although the incident occurred last year it came to light recently when in a bid to secure a jobin the English department, Dr Kaul approached the new Vice-Chancellor Ashwin Kapadia.

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Dr Kapadia said he was sympathetic towards Dr Kaul and wanted to create an opening for him. When he spoke to the departmental head, he learnt that there were serious complaints against him. Kapadia, however, claimed that he was only aware of complaints against his style of teaching and his 8220;stylised accent8221; which SGU students found hard to follow.

Dr Kaul admitted that he was very strict with students and did not like it when students failed to answer questions fired at them. A teacher in the neighbouring department said she knew of Dr Kaul8217;s habit but was not sure whether he was singling out girls for throwing chalks.

Dr Vamdatt said she would protest if the university decided to appoint Kaul, even on an ad hoc basis. She said he was not fit to teach English as he did not even hold an MA degree in English. 8220;I know he is desperately looking for a job. I sympathise with him. I think he is suffering from a persecutioncomplex.8221;

The vice-chancellor said he would look into the matter and speak to the students, Kaul and the departmental head. One of Kaul8217;s colleagues was aware that 8220;his style and behaviour is not acceptable to students here,8221; but said charges of indecent behaviour could be motivated. He said some students had given Kaul a Valentine card and felt scorned when he refused to accept it.