In a heartfelt letter released on Sunday, Dr. RV Asokan, President of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), expressed profound grief and outrage over the recent tragic death of a postgraduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata. The 32-year-old woman was allegedly raped and murdered while on duty last week, igniting widespread protests and calls for justice.
A Nation’s Grief
Dr. Asokan’s letter poignantly captures the collective mood of the nation. He writes, “We failed her in life but, we as a nation did not let her down in death. It is difficult to capture the mood of the nation. Anger, revulsion, frustration, helplessness.”
The letter describes the victim’s harsh reality: “She was on a 36-hour shift. Had dinner at 2 am before retiring to makeshift beds in the seminar room adjacent to the ward. Only daughter of lower-middle-class parents. The orphaned doctor’s nameplate at the entry remains a vestige of family pride. Simple archetypical Indian parents. Inconsolable. Lost the meaning and purpose of life. Innocent and naive with the trust like children. The streets were empty. Fear hung in the air. Few conscientious youth protested in a corner. Strange eerie silence.”
Ongoing Outrage and Protest
The death of the trainee doctor has sparked a massive outcry among medical professionals. Dr. Asokan assured that the IMA will persist in leading the nationwide protests. “She had lit a million candles. Thousands of war drums reverberated. Every Indian family lost their daughter. Mothers boiled. Fathers wept silently,” he stated.
Dr. Asokan praised the resilience of medical professionals who have led the charge in protests, stating, “First out were the residents. Next seven days they never slept. Used to 100-hour weeks. Their vigil and firepower the only hope of the nation. They chiseled the Resistance.”
Nationwide Actions
The Indian Medical Association, the country’s largest organization of doctors, has been at the forefront of the push for justice. On Saturday, the IMA organized a nationwide strike, halting all non-essential medical services for 24 hours. This action was part of a broader movement that saw thousands of women across the country participating in “Reclaim The Night” marches on Wednesday night, demanding justice for the victim.
The brutal murder and the subsequent protests highlight the urgent need for improved safety measures for healthcare professionals and justice for those affected by such heinous crimes.