It has been 28 days since a 31-year-old physician was discovered raped and murdered in a seminar corridor of Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical School and Hospital. And the Metropolis of Pleasure, recognized to be laid again and hopelessly romantic, is conscious and indignant.

There was a protest every single day for the previous 4 weeks in a number of corners of West Bengal. Legal professionals, academics, medical doctors, actors – no part of the society has been untouched by the outrage, and the cry for justice.

From kids reciting slogans to the aged holding palms with their little children in protest rallies, individuals from all ages group have left their drawing rooms and are available out on the streets. Age, gender, class, political inclinations – all strains have blurred on this mass motion.

Crimes are fast, however legislation strikes slowly. In a rustic as populated and complicated as ours, it barely plods alongside. There was just one arrest on this case thus far – civic volunteer Sanjay Roy, who’s accused of raping and murdering the physician throughout her night time shift. Many among the many protesters, together with the sufferer’s mother and father, suspect extra individuals had been concerned – if not within the crime then at the least in an alleged cover-up.

The Mamata Banerjee-led state authorities’s actions within the aftermath of the rape-murder have left many questions, prompting allegations of a cover-up and makes an attempt to defend individuals. A number of Trinamool leaders have made incendiary remarks – one threatened to interrupt any finger pointed at Mamata Banerjee – and that has not helped the ruling social gathering within the notion battle.

The protests, which began primarily as a medical doctors’ agitation to demand justice for his or her colleague and higher work circumstances, embody each part of the society as they enter the fourth week. WhatsApp teams created for one march within the early days proceed to buzz with updates on the subsequent protest, and the subsequent. Every day, the query pops up – the place to, right now?

What’s sustaining these protests? Kolkata, or Bengal, are usually not unfamiliar with giant protests. From the Nandigram violence to the Rizwanur Rahman case, Bengal has come collectively to lift its voice in opposition to injustice a number of instances within the current previous. However the scale of the agitation over the RG Kar case is completely different. It’s not led by the opposition, although they’re becoming a member of in. It’s the people who find themselves driving this motion, people who find themselves not prepared to maneuver on, people who find themselves not able to neglect.

Why is that? As a result of the RG Kar case has shaken the Bengali girl to her core. It has threatened the liberty she has fought for – and received – over centuries.

The combat in opposition to Sati – the observe of widows burning of their husband’s pyres – started in Bengal, so did widow remarriage. Be it the liberty battle or peasant agitations such because the Tebhaga Motion, Bengal’s ladies have walked alongside males in each march for justice. No, it has not been an ideal society and patriarchy has had its moments, however it has been challenged. From lighting funeral pyres to presiding over spiritual rituals, the Bengali girl has continued to check the boundaries over time. She has been described as combative, domineering and opinionated. There have been some weird descriptors too – like ‘black magic skilled’. The “Bong” girl has laughed them off.

The RG Kar incident threatens to disturb that milieu. Almost 150 years after two Bengalis turned India’s first ladies graduates, the Bengali girl feels the partitions closing in on her. Will she be barred from night time shifts? Handled as a weak species? Want males to escort her for security? All as a result of the system failed her. She will not keep residence out of concern, tonight or every other night time.

The 31-year-old physician belonged to an extraordinary household. Via her willpower and arduous work, she not solely achieved her personal dream of turning into a physician, but in addition remodeled her mother and father’ future, giving them a extra snug life. The nameplate on the household’s residence, with solely her identify, captures her mother and father’ pleasure. Then one night time shattered the dream.

Within the physician’s grieving mother and father, many ladies – and males – see their very own mother and father, who imagine in them endlessly, dream for them, stay for them.

Bengal desires to face by them, come what could. If they need to hit the streets day by day for that, so be it.

There may be immense anger over the authorities’ response to the incident – be it the primary name from the state-run hospital to the mother and father, who had been instructed their daughter had died by suicide, of the allegations of cops protecting the mother and father ready for hours after which speeding with the cremation. Questions have been requested on why the state authorities initially appeared to defend key figures suspected to be concerned within the case. The Mamata Banerjee authorities has been accused of a cover-up try and destruction of proof. The state authorities’s advisory that night time shifts have to be prevented for ladies has added to the general public outcry. It was an admission that the administration is incapable of defending ladies staff, say protesters.

With a number of theories doing the rounds and no clear solutions, individuals are stressed. Three weeks have handed for the reason that CBI took over the investigation, and the shortage of seen progress has added to the unease. Such is the shortage of belief in establishments that individuals really feel if the protests cease, there can be no justice. So, they don’t seem to be staying residence or staying silent. They’re screaming for justice and nobody desires to cease till one thing offers.

Even the approaching Durga Pujo has not distracted them or softened their focus. Bengal’s most particular time of 12 months is not far away, however for a lot of, it’s one other medium to precise their outrage. Already, some pujo organisers have refused the state authorities’s conventional donation to their pandal. As they welcome the Goddess – who doesn’t want her husband to accompany her on her annual journey – their voices will stay unmuted and uncompromising.

Protest And Politics

The Trinamool Congress has stated it agrees with the protesters’ demand for justice, however has accused the BJP and CPM of attempting to hijack the protests for political good points. The Opposition events have responded by demanding Mamata Banerjee’s resignation and saying she ought to take accountability for the incident, not simply because she is the Chief Minister, but in addition as a result of she is answerable for the Dwelling Ministry.

Because the protests tackle a lifetime of their very own, the political slugfest continues within the background. The BJP and CPM have organised many protests, which they’re anticipated to, as opposition events. However many of those marches have been spontaneous and devoid of political symbols. In reality, at a number of protests, politicians have been turned away.

The individuals are shaken, however they don’t wish to be tagged or threatened or pushed to shout slogans.

(Saikat Kumar Bose is Deputy Information Editor at NDTV)

Disclaimer: These are the private opinions of the writer.