People are at the heart of any nation, and the brutal loss of daughters, sisters and mothers leave deep, unhealed wounds. The pain experienced by the survivor’s families is indescribable. The stories from the last ten days alone are enough to send a chill down any parent’s spine
By Rashi Gupta
India has a long history of resilience, culture and diversity. Beneath its vibrant surface, a pervasive darkness is resurfacing: a surge in sexual violence.
Recent weeks have painted a bleak picture of India’s struggle to protect its women and children, with over 21 reported cases of brutal assaults and rape in just ten days. This surge has not only sent shock-waves across the country, but it has also revived the age-old debate over women’s safety, systemic and repeated failures on the part of the Indian State and its institutions, and the unspoken grief that countless families face, each day of their life.
This article is all about some of the most devastating cases, the national response to these atrocities, and the critical need for systemic reform. The Kolkata case, which has led to national outrage, along with the recent wave of rape cases, has shattered not only the lives of women and their families, but has also torn apart the core of our communities, leaving behind a deep sense of loss, fear and collective grief.
The suffering and loss: People are at the heart of any nation, and the brutal loss of daughters, sisters and mothers leave deep, unhealed wounds. The pain experienced by the survivor’s families is indescribable. The stories from the last ten days alone are enough to send a chill down any parent’s spine.
Every woman’s face bears the memories of her dreams, the laughter they once shared with their families, and the futures that were snatched away, in an instant of unspeakable violence.
On August 18, 2024, a young Dalit nurse’s life was forever changed in Moradabad, a town in UP. She has been working tirelessly in a hospital for seven months, hoping to make a better life for herself and her family.
However, that night, a doctor abused his position of power, shattering her trust, and violating her dignity.
The horrific details — how she was forcibly taken to the doctor’s room and sexually assaulted — will haunt her forever. They serve as a stark reminder of how vulnerable women are, even in places where they should feel safe. In a cruel twist of fate, while she dreamt of saving lives as a nurse, her own life was destroyed by a man and his aides, one of them a woman.
Her story is not unique. In Muzaffarpur, Bihar, a 14-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered, after she refused to marry one of her attackers. The image of her bruised and battered body, discarded as trash outside her village, is a chilling reminder of the cruelty that so many women face.
This is more than just a statistic. This was a young girl with dreams, with a family which loved her, and a future that was cruelly taken away.
Another nurse in Uttarakhand was raped and murdered. Her mutilated body was discovered hours later, and her life was brutally ended by someone she had most likely trusted.
These cases leave behind devastated families — mothers and fathers who send their daughters out into the world, hoping they would return safely. Instead, they were left to embrace the memories of the children they had lost, wondering how society could let them down so badly.
The fear that follows: The fear that a woman feels after being sexually assaulted is difficult to comprehend. It is a fear that does not go away with the end of a court case, or the imprisonment of a culprit.
It is a fear that lingers in everyday moments, such as how women hesitate to walk alone at night, or, how mothers anxiously watch the clock, hoping that their daughters will return home safely.
Parents often send even their younger sons to accompany their sisters, hoping that the presence of a brother, despite his youth, might offer an added layer of protection. Indian women experience fear not only for themselves, but also for their sisters, daughters and friends.
And it’s a fear that society has allowed to fester for too long.
A 13-year-old girl in Amethi, UP, experienced an unimaginable nightmare when her father raped her. This type of violence leaves deep physical and emotional scars.
How does a child recover from betrayal by someone who was supposed to protect her?
How does a mother muster the courage to console her daughter after losing her own battle with life?
These are the questions that remain long after the news has moved on to the next story.
Fear was also the unfortunate companion of a 16-year-old girl from Uttarakhand who was gang-raped by a bus driver, conductor, sweeper, and others. And that too inside a bus in the bustling Dehradun Inter-State Bus Terminal. The assault took place in a setting that many people are all too familiar with — on their daily commute.
For so many women in India, public transportation is a necessary part of life. However, it is frequently the setting for unspeakable acts of violence.
The terror of those moments will most likely haunt that young girl for many years — if not her entire life. The terror of being unable to flee, the sense of helplessness as she was overpowered by perverted men, who saw her not as a human being, but as a target of their vicious and ugly lust.
These are the realities of life for far too many women.
A nation’s response — Protests and outrage: The anger and grief in India, especially among women, grew in tandem with the rapid rise in the number of cases of sheer barbarism. The ‘Reclaim the Night’ movement, which arose from this collective anguish, became a source of resistance and hope for many.
On the night of August 14, 2024, women and men, especially the young, marched through the streets of several towns and cities of India, to demand justice for the survivors and the murdered. They wanted an immediate end to the violence that has long plagued the women of our land. The massive movement quickly gained traction, with doctors and other healthcare professionals striking in unison to protest the lack of safety for colleagues and patients.
Doctors, in particular, have been deeply affected by the violence. Many of the recent cases have involved hospitals and other medical facilities — places that should be safe havens for care and compassion.
In response to a nurse’s brutal rape and murder in Kolkata on August 17, 2024, doctors across the country held candle light vigils, marches and silent protests. They demanded not only justice for their fallen colleagues, but they also protested to make the workplace safer for all women.
The striking image of medical professionals, who are traditionally viewed as healers, banding together to protest the injustice, was a powerful symbol of how pervasive this issue has become.
The protests were not limited to hospitals. People from all walks of life rallied across the country to demand change.
Candle light marches lit up the night streets of cities and towns, while street plays brought the harsh reality of sexual violence to life. Angry slogans flood the night. Banner and placards floated in nooks and corners.
Silent protests were held in memory of the women — silent because no words can fully express the anguish of these murders and violent assaults. The nation’s collective grief was palpable during these demonstrations, serving as a reminder that the fight for women’s safety is far from over.
A system in need of repair: Despite all of the outrage and protests, one fact remains — the country’s legal and judicial systems are in desperate need of radical, urgent and immediate reforms. While the implementation of stricter anti-rape laws, following the 2012 Nirbhaya case, was a positive step, these laws are not effectively enforced.
Justice often moves extremely slow, leaving survivors, and their families and friends, waiting for years for justice. Or, sometimes, justice never arrives at all.
The Moradabad case, in which a Dalit nurse was raped by a doctor, exemplifies how slow the system can be. Although arrests have been made, the path to justice will likely be long and difficult.
Many brave survivors find the process of justice a relentless cycle of trauma, stress and depression. This is because they are forced to relive their experiences in front of police officers, lawyers and judges.
The stigma associated with sexual assault deters many of them from coming forward in the first place. They are concerned not only about the judgment of their communities, but, also, that their attackers will go unpunished.
What India requires is a complete overhaul of all its systems and institutions, so to ensure that survivors are not only believed and trusted, but supported on their path to justice. Specialized fast-track courts for cases of sexual violence could help speed up the legal process.
Law enforcement officers, who fail to follow up on complaints, must be held accountable and punished. It is critical to improve police and judicial training so that these cases are handled with the sensitivity and seriousness they deserve.
A call for change — moving beyond laws: Legal reforms, while necessary, are insufficient to eradicate sexual violence in the country. There must be concerted efforts to change entrenched cultural attitudes that fuel this relentless cycle of violence.
Deep-seated misogyny, anti-women patriarchal norms, feudal orthodoxy, and the dehumanization of women — they all help to normalize rape culture. Educational initiatives and social awareness, aimed at challenging these norms and mindsets at a young age, are critical, if we really intend to build a society that truly respects and values women.
India should invest in services for the courageous and resilient survivors of sexual violence. Too many survivors are left to deal with the trauma on their own, with no access to healthcare, counseling, or legal assistance. By providing comprehensive support services, the government can assist survivors in healing, and empowering them to seek justice.
Path to progress: The recent increase in sexual violence cases serve as a stark reminder that the fight for women’s safety has not ended. The intense grief of families who have lost their loved ones, the fear that grips the hearts of women, and the outrage of a nation demanding change — all point to the need for radical and systemic transformation.
However, there is hope. Still.
Despite the overwhelming tragedy, India has repeatedly demonstrated its resilience. The protests, strikes, and public outcry demonstrate that the people are ready for change.
What is needed now is for the government, law enforcement and judicial systems to step up and take meaningful and decisive action. So that, from now onwards, women’s safety must become a national priority.
In the face of darkness, the strength of our collective response will define the future we build.
Let our fight against injustice be relentless, our resolve unwavering, and our hope unbreakable.
Let us wipe the tears of the survivors, hold their hands.
Let us punish the barbarians.
And let us light another candle, which lightens the sorrow, and fills the universe with enlightenment, courage and optimism.