A bizarre incident at the Haringhata Technology College in Nadia, West Bengal, has sparked widespread controversy after videos emerged showing a professor “marrying” a student during a classroom event. The videos, which include wedding rituals such as ‘haldi,’ garland exchanges, and the student applying sindoor to the professor, quickly went viral, raising questions about the propriety of the act.
The incident, which reportedly took place at the Psychology Department of the college, shows the professor, Payal Banerjee, dressed in bridal attire, taking part in what appears to be a Hindu wedding ceremony. In one video, the student is seen smearing ‘haldi’ on the professor as part of a traditional wedding ritual. Another video shows the two exchanging garlands, walking around a candle representing the sacred fire, and engaging in other customary marriage rites.
A university official confirmed that the college falls under the Maulana Abul Kalam Azad University of Technology (MAKAUT) and is now investigating the matter. The professor has been sent on leave while a three-member committee has been formed to look into the situation.
Banerjee, who has taught psychology for several years, has denied that the event was a real wedding. She clarified that the act was part of an academic exercise intended for internal use only and was meant to demonstrate psychological concepts in a creative way. The professor claims the video was leaked maliciously with the intent to harm her reputation.
Among the footage circulating on social media, one video also shows a university letter, signed by both Banerjee and the student, declaring their marriage, along with three witnesses.
The college administration is proceeding with caution, as they cannot take any decisive action without a thorough investigation. The viral nature of the videos has led to public debates over the ethics of using such methods in academic settings and whether the act could have been misunderstood.
The incident has caught the attention of both students and faculty, with many questioning the boundaries between academic exercises and personal behavior in a professional setting. It remains to be seen what actions the college authorities will take following the investigation.
As of now, the incident has left both the educational community and social media users in a state of shock and confusion, with many calling for clear guidelines on such matters within educational institutions.
Sources By Agencies