RG Kar Medical College Tragedy: Kolkata Rape, Murder & the Fear of Being a Woman in India

After the blog post sitting in my drafts for 2 days now (too numb and triggered to complete it), here is what I think of the Kolkata rape case. er the blog post sitting in my drafts for 2 days now (too numb and triggered to complete it), here is what I think of the Kolkata rape case.

The latest rape and murder case at R G Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata breaks our hearts yet again. Accused "men" (we really don't believe there is just one person involved, other than probable gang rape) brutally raped and murdered a postgraduate trainee doctor during the night shift. I don't think I need to go more into information, as it is everywhere now. 

Just like Nirbhaya, Priyanka Reddy, and the Hathras case, this Kolkata doctor murder and rape case sends a shiver down our spine and cuts into our hearts. Our hearts bled for our now-dead sister, who underwent a brutal crime and was murdered while on duty to save others. This not only scares the doctor (and nurses) community but women from all professions, especially the more male-dominated ones. This case, like many others, is a microcosm of the whole patriarchal world out there who do not respect women and treat them as mere sexual objects. 

Cases like these, against doctors, are also a reason for the brain drain in India. A lot of (trainee) doctors who have the opportunities are looking to settle out of India for safety from violence against doctors. And such rape and murder cases against female doctors will only accelerate this migration. Female doctors and nurses will back off from night duty (at least those who have the option to, without losing their jobs). No matter what's the occupation of a woman, or even a student, women across India are scared by the rising levels of horror with every rape case. Just as we think it can't get worse than this, another case comes up with even more horrifying details.

Women and doctors across India are demanding a CBI probe into this case (now transferred to CBI), along with some other demands like safety measures and termination of the former principal (who has only been transferred). 

Rape and murder cases like these discourage us from celebrating India's Independence Day. Are we really free? By no means do I mean to discredit the sacrifices of thousands and lakhs of freedom fighters, but we only got independence from the British, but the colonial mindset still exists. Such monsters continue to live within our society and walk freely without any guilt, meanwhile putting blame on the victims based on the colonial idea of modesty (length of cloth, opinionated woman, whatever). How can we women be free when there are only rising cases of gender violence in our country? Despite 75+ years of independence, the crimes against women are only accelerating in India, with rising horrifying details. Women's safety in India has now become a myth and a distant dream.

No doubt women (and even some men) in the West or even India choose bear instead of "man" in the Man vs. Bear argument due to such rape and murder cases. At least there will be a swift death while being in proximity to the bear, and they may not have to go through the heinous crime. Bears may be much better off than some "men."

To add to this, the accused did not even feel guilty. Additionally, there have been 2 assault complaints against him from his wife, which were ignored as the police did not take any action. If police bothered to take action then, the doctor wouldn't have met this fate. 

Going by the news, even the former principal of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, Sandip Ghosh is at fault too. There have been accusations against him for corruption and other things by his former colleagues. 

In the end, we can only wish for fast action against the criminals, that too capital punishment, but going by the speed of the Indian judiciary system and the skewed money and power politics, don't expect it to happen anytime soon. Perhaps the encounter, like in Priyanka Reddy's case, is the only option that can give some justice to the victim and her family.