Kozhikode: After the Koduvally police registered a non-bailable case against a college teacher who compared women's bosoms with watermelon, the complainant Amritha Mather told Onmanorama that his disgraceful references to the students of his own college annoyed her more than his misogynistic comments.
"He introduced himself as a professor at the Farook Training College and exemplified each of his sexually charged remarks with the dressing styles of students at this college. He should have avoided that as he was giving the speech in a family gathering outside the campus," Amritha said.
Jouhar Munawar, assistant professor for social sciences at the Farook Training College, Kozhikode, had delivered a speech suffused with misogynistic views, at a private event for some Muslim families in Koduvally.
Koduvally police registered the case on Thursday under sections 354 A (IV) (sexual harassment) and IPC 509 (word, gesture or act indented to insult the modesty of a woman).
Amritha told Onmanorama that Munawar has reportedly shared his misogynistic and 'pseudo-moralistic' ideas during his lectures earlier too.
"Students have previously reported on the intolerable level of misogyny in his lectures. But this is the first time we have a recorded evidence. I noticed this speech on March 12 as it started going viral on social media for its sensational content. His words and ideas are unendurable for any reason. The entire speech undermines the dignity of womanhood. This shall not be promoted in the name of an educational institution, at any cost. He shouldn't have used the identity of Farook College and also could have avoided the abusive comments on our dressing styles," Mather said.
She added that students of the college are being frequently slammed on moral grounds, especially after it was declared autonomous. Teachers, members of the management and even the locals make moralistic comments on students, Amritha said.
However, the Ernakulam native said that none of the staff members or companions of the accused teacher have threatened or misbehaved with her so far.
College unaffected by the row: principal
The principal of Farook Training College, professor C A Jawahar, said that this is the first time that anyone had raised such a complaint against Jouhar Manawar.
"Jouhar is a decent teacher who finishes his portions soon and behaves normally in classrooms. No one has ever raised a complaint against his misogynistic attitude. As this incident happened outside the college campus, there is a limitation for the college management to conduct probe and take actions. So we have decided to abide by the legal proceedings," he said.
The principal added that the college has been functioning normally throughout this month and the controversies haven't affected its functioning.
Meanwhile, Koduvally police said that if proved, Jouhar would not be able to get a bail by any means.
"The inquiry is being headed by sub-inspector K Prajeesh. We have registered the case with non-bailable charges under Sections 354 and 509. The inquiry is on," civil police officer Rajesh said.
Onmanorama tried to contact Jouhar Munawar between 1pm and 3 pm on March 23 Friday but the calls were not answered.