In New Delhi, India, protests and demonstrations erupted following the murder of a junior doctor. On August 9, her body was found dead, with evidence of rape, in a seminar room at the R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in the city of Kolkata. Before her tragic death, she worked a grueling 36-hour shift and had nowhere else to rest.
In response, the hospital administration and politicians offer no solutions. The R.G. Kar medical college principal, Dr. Sandip Ghosh, first placed blame on the victim, which led to his resignation. But he was given a post in another medical college immediately after. Politicians placed blame on rival parties and pretended that sexual violence is mainly an issue in certain of India’s states. India’s Supreme Court took limited action, setting up a hospital safety task force.
People were outraged and took to the streets. Demonstrations have taken place at over 100 locations across Kolkata and in the state of West Bengal. On Saturday, doctors held a 24-hour nationwide strike that shut down all hospital services in India except for emergency care. Thousands of women swept West Bengal and other towns marching and calling to “reclaim the night” – demanding action against the violence inflicted on women.
People are fed up with the unsafe conditions of everyday life. According to a 2019 study in The Indian Journal of Psychiatry, about 75 percent of doctors have experienced violence and most feel stressed by their job. Sexual violence has worsened with 90 rapes reported on average every day in 2022, with many cases that go unreported due to stigma.
Women in India are tired of being silenced and tired of inaction by the authorities, and are fighting for their freedom. Doctors are taking a stand for a safer workplace and vow to continue protesting until a central law is made to punish violent crimes against doctors. Demonstrations persist with protesters blocking railway tracks. Their courage should inspire all of us.
We must “reclaim the night” everywhere. Violence against women and care workers is far too common across the world. It is only when we come together as a collective that we can find safety. We cannot rely on legislation and government that repeatedly let victims down. We can only rely on our collective power.
