Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the protest under the banner of ‘occupy the night’. Most of the protests were led by women.
Demonstrations took place in the city of Kolkata, West Bengal, India last Wednesday night to protest the rape and murder of a trainee doctor while on duty at a hospital.
Hundreds of thousands of people participated in the protest under the banner of ‘occupy the night’. Most of the protests were led by women.
The 31-year-old doctor was raped and murdered at RG Kar Medical College last Friday. Protests have spread across India over this incident.
27-year-old Debalena Basu is an intern at the same hospital. In an interview given to BBC, Devalina said that she is shocked and angry about what happened to her colleague. He also participated in Wednesday’s protest to protest against it. Since the incident, he himself is spending days in worry.
I am still shaking when I think of what happened to the victim. I can’t sleep properly at night,” said Devalina.
Devalina said that three weeks ago, she felt panic while resting in a room just a few meters away from the hospital where her colleague was raped and murdered.
Describing the experience of that day, Debalena said, ‘After hours of standing and working, I was tired and thought of taking some rest. But the lock of the door of the room was not good, so I could not lock it properly. I was alone in the room. After a while I became concerned about my safety. Then I put it out of my head. I started to convince myself that my colleagues are nearby. Nothing untoward will happen to me in the hospital.’
But Devalina mentioned that there is no chance to be so carefree now. He now lives in fear while working at the hospital. Feeling insecure all the time.
Debalena mentioned that whatever happened to her colleague was completely unimaginable. He said, ‘How can such a terrible incident happen to a doctor on duty? Can such an inhuman event happen? Doctors save lives. They give people a second life, sometimes a third time.
Devalina said, because of this, she went to the streets to protest with her colleagues.
Devalina said that her parents did not want her to join the protest. He was worried about his safety. He said, “But I told them (parents) that they should encourage me.” Because women have the right to come out on the streets at night and feel safe. Women have the right to go where they want, do what they want without any security concerns. We have the same right to walk at night as anyone else.’
Debalina said that she had protested to make sure that people understand and believe these words. He saw people of different classes and ages in the protest. Grandmothers, mothers and daughters, women of different generations took part in the protest. They took part in the protest holding placards and candles and chanted slogans demanding justice and change. Others just walked in silence.
Women professors and staff of Debalinader Hospital also took to the streets to protest. Residents of the building where he lives also participated in a protest organized by the society.
Devalina said, “I saw people who I never thought would take to the streets to protest at night, come to the streets for the first time. I find it very special and powerful. I walked with my female friends. Even after participating in a single protest, I felt like I was connected to hundreds of protests held simultaneously. My friends shared videos of their protests from different places. I have shared my photos and videos.’
Debalena feels that the incident of rape and murder of a female doctor has created a lot of anger among people.
He said, ‘It is often seen in our society that many people blame the victim of the incident. They say why did she go out with a man or why did she wear such clothes or why did she go out that night?’
Usually women are blamed for the actions of men.
Debalena said, ‘It is time for us as a society to stand up and ask ourselves – who is really responsible for rape?’
