President Droupadi Murmu’s recent statement regarding the rape and murder of a young doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital has reignited a crucial conversation about gender violence and the societal responses to it. Murmu’s public comments are significant as they mark her first detailed reaction to this tragic incident, which occurred nearly 20 days ago and has sparked widespread outrage and debate.
Objectification and Deplorable Mindset
In her statement, President Murmu expressed profound dismay and horror at the heinous crime. She sharply criticized the pervasive objectification of women by certain individuals, condemning a mindset that reduces women to “lesser human beings,” “less powerful,” and “less intelligent” entities. This objectification reflects a deeply ingrained cultural issue where women are often viewed as secondary or inferior to men. Such attitudes contribute to an environment where violence against women is normalized and excused, rather than rigorously addressed.
Ongoing Crisis and Collective Amnesia
Murmu emphasized that the brutal murder of the doctor was not an isolated incident but part of a troubling pattern of violence against women. She condemned the “obnoxious collective amnesia” that allows such incidents to fade from public consciousness quickly. This collective amnesia, Murmu argues, is a significant barrier to meaningful reform and accountability. It suggests that society is quick to move on from tragedies without enacting long-term changes to prevent future occurrences.
Failure to Learn from Past Incidents
Reflecting on the aftermath of the 2012 Nirbhaya case, Murmu noted the initial shock and public outcry that led to various reforms and heightened awareness. However, she pointed out that despite these efforts, the problem of violence against women persists. The reforms that followed Nirbhaya’s death, while impactful to some extent, have proven insufficient in eliminating the systemic issues. Murmu’s lament about countless rapes being forgotten underscores the failure to sustain the momentum of reform and public awareness over the years.
Recent Horrors and Political Dispute
The President also drew attention to other recent violent crimes against women, including brutal assaults reported from Uttarakhand and Maharashtra, and a series of sexual harassment allegations within the Malayalam film industry. These incidents highlight a broader crisis of gender-based violence that continues unabated.
The Kolkata case, in particular, has also triggered a significant political dispute. The ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP have been at loggerheads, each accusing the other of failing to address the issue effectively. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of the Trinamool Congress has demanded stricter laws for women’s safety, while the BJP has pointed out the lack of implementation of existing schemes. This political bickering has overshadowed the core issue of ensuring justice for victims and safety for women.
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Additional Incidents and Supreme Court Intervention
The tragic case in Kolkata is not an isolated instance but part of a broader pattern of gender violence. Other incidents, such as the horrifying case in Rajasthan where a woman was dragged behind a motorcycle, have also gained attention but often become overshadowed by the next news cycle.
In response to the Kolkata case and its political fallout, the Supreme Court has taken suo moto cognizance. The Court has conducted hearings and issued warnings against the politicization of the issue, urging both the central and state governments to focus on justice and systemic reform rather than engaging in partisan disputes. This intervention highlights the judiciary’s role in addressing and curbing violence against women and ensuring that such cases are handled with the seriousness they warrant.
Conclusion
President Murmu’s statement and the subsequent developments underscore a critical need for sustained and comprehensive action to combat gender-based violence. The collective failure to remember and address these issues, combined with political maneuvering, impedes progress. The focus must shift from temporary outrage to long-term solutions that address the root causes of gender violence and ensure justice and safety for all women. Only by confronting and overcoming this “collective amnesia” and the deplorable mindsets that perpetuate violence can society hope to achieve lasting change.
