Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 07:30 pm
KOLKATA – Tens of thousands took to the streets in Kolkata on Wednesday evening, marching for “Reclaim the Night.” A week after the horrific rape and murder of a 31-year-old trainee doctor sent widespread outrage across India, calls for justice were made.
Tragic Incident: The victim, working at the RG Kar Medical College, was brutally attacked on Friday. Her lifeless body was discovered the following morning in a hospital seminar hall as an outcry of the medical fraternity and the public is raised. The manner of her death has brought once again into light the series of violent incidents against women, and the safety measures taken for them in public areas.
Women-Led Protest: The rally was attended by women who converged to protest for justice on behalf of the victim. They also urged safer conditions for women in the country. “I joined the protest because what happened to my colleague is beyond horrifying,” said Devalina Bose, a 27-year-old intern from the same hospital, amidst her tears of grief and anger. “We work hard to save lives, yet we are not safe ourselves. This must change.”
Personal Stories of Fear: The personal stories of fear and vulnerability shared by many participants during the march brought into sharp focus for many the fact that safety is indeed always a consideration for women in India. Bose recounted her feeling of unsafe situations almost every night while on shift and always on guard. “I can no longer turn a blind eye to the risks that women face, even in places which are supposed to be safe, such as hospitals,” she said.
Demands: The protesters have demanded speedy justice to the victim, besides changes in the system for women’s safety in all public areas. The tragic incident has also revived demands for strict laws for protecting healthcare workers, especially women from violence and harassment.
Nationwide Protests: The Kolkata march forms part of a broader movement as similar protests are staged across the country. The incident has yet again brought into light the ominous security threat women face in the country, especially those in vulnerable professions like health.
Medical Fraternity Reaction: Junior doctors in West Bengal have gone on strike, demanding better security measures in the backdrop of the tragedy. This incident has thrown into sharp light the generally prevalent poor safety measures at many health facilities that keep doctors continuously overstressed and often deny them secured rooms to sleep during work. The killing of the trainee doctor is not an isolated incident. India has a long history of violence against women in the healthcare sector, with numerous reports of doctors and nurses being attacked by patients and their relatives. The absence of stringent federal laws to protect healthcare workers made matters worse, leaving many at the mercy of abuse.
Conclusion: The “Reclaim the Night” march in Kolkata was a fitting unity-both in solidarity and demand for justice. A horrific murder of a young doctor has become a rallying cry for change, with thousands coming forward to call for a safer and more just society. Demands grow loud for accountability and reform as the nation mourns yet another lost innocent life, so this incident brings change for good.
