Ten days since the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor in Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, the streets of India have been reverberating with just one slogan — ‘We Want Justice’.
Rallies across Bengal, fuelled by doctors and the aam aadmi, have assumed a life of their own, with social media becoming the catalyst for channelling the collective outrage.
The protesters, while speaking to News18, said their demand was much beyond immediate action against the perpetrators of the heinous crime. Instead, they wanted a culture where women work and live without fear, much like their male counterparts.
Among the participants in one of the rallies was four-year-old Ushashi. Ushashi’s mother Chaitali, when asked about bringing her daughter to the protest, said she was teaching her daughter to fight for justice. “She will also become a woman one day. She should know how vulnerable we are and learn to fight. We have to pressure the system for justice.”
Sohini Routh, an HR manager who participated in the ‘Reclaim the Night’ protest on August 14, said the demand for justice was a call for comprehensive and transformative change.
“It means demanding a world where safety is a universal right, transcending gender, profession, and social status. We insist on a judicial system that acts swiftly and decisively against heinous crimes, ensuring that perpetrators are held accountable and victims receive prompt justice. Our vision includes integrating thorough sex education into our schools, and fostering discussions grounded in dignity, empathy, and equality. True justice demands that we build a culture where respect and empathy are paramount, and where every individual, regardless of their identity, is guaranteed safety and equality in every facet of life,” she said.
For senior teacher Anamika Roy, this is the first protest she has been a part of. Speaking to News18, she said the need of the hour was safety and respect for women, gender equality, freedom of speech, and the freedom to protest.
Rumpa Mitra, a Bengali who stays in Oman, is also participating in the protest to demand a culture where women live without fear.
“Justice, in this context, means more than just a verdict in a courtroom. It means fostering a culture where women can live without fear, where their voices are heard, and where the response to their suffering is not apathy but action. When we demand justice, we are demanding a world where respect for all is the norm, and where such atrocities are no longer tolerated,” she told News18.
Homemaker Avirupa Roy says everyone must take to the streets to protest against the incident that has scared women across the country.
As the investigation in the case continues, from the film fraternity, the football community to lawyers, the war cry across the country is the demand for justice, with women making yet another effort to reclaim public places.
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