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Kamla Bora in Jaipur
Campus, a novel written by Rajasthan University Vice-Chancellor Professor K L Kamal, has sent shockwaves in the state's academic circles with its candid depiction of a VC's life.
Several members of the faculty, students and women's organisations have accused Professor Kamal of showing women in bad light in his novel.
The vice-chancellor has, however, defended his work saying "people are unnecessarily seeking to see [a] real life scenario in a work of fiction."
He has even linked the controversy to his detractors' attempts to deny him a second term as vice-chancellor.
The novel, which has vivid descriptions of its main protagonist's relations with teachers and students of the opposite sex, hit the headlines after a Hindi daily published its excerpts.
Leading the protests, women activist and university teacher Renuka Pamecha demanded that the book be banned.
Several girl students also expressed similar sentiments when interviewed by a private cable TV channel.
Though Professor Kamal has issued a statement expressing regret if his book has hurt anybody's feelings, the controversy is not likely to die down so easily.
Professor Kamal will put in his papers next month after completion of his three-year term as vice-chancellor.
The state government has already formed a committee to look for a replacement.
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