The light is still burning in Calcutta with the ongoing protests against the rape and murder that took place in RG Kar Medical College and Hospital on 9th August, 2024. The businessmen and entrepreneurs of Calcutta came together at Offbeat CCU on 23rd August at 9:00 PM to speak on the matter and attend a candlelight vigil for Abhaya. Muralists Devi Ganguly, Remille, and Nabanita Kundu brought art to the forefront with their powerful imagery on large canvases. Voices united in songs that echoed calls for revolution, justice, and a brighter future.
Meghdut Roy Chowdhury, founder of Make Calcutta Relevant Again (MCRA), said, “Us men are being celebrated for doing the absolute bare minimum. Not violating another person cannot be a reason to celebrate, putting together a protest where a few people can say what’s in their hearts cannot be a reason to celebrate. We have to do better, especially for the young ones… Thank you rape culture, thank you inherent sexism in every single household which has brought us to this point. Things need to change…This is not a place to talk about ourselves or our organisations. It’s time to talk about our collective interest because at the end of the day, if some of us are not safe, none of us are safe”.
Dhiman Das, Director of K.C.Das Private Ltd., spoke, “It’s unfortunate that we’ve gathered here today due to the despicable act that was committed in our own city. I’ve had a lot of people tell me not to join the protests, I might be marked. There might be problems awaiting in the future. But why? Why should we sit around in fear? This isn’t the time to be afraid anymore. What’s even more humiliating for us as citizens is that similar incidents have occurred even after the 9th of August, despite of the protests and the uproar… My request to each and every one is to not be scared. We need to be even more united. All of us entrepreneurs present here today, and all the citizens of Calcutta – we demand justice. We demand punishment to the perpetrators.”
Sourav Chunder, Advocate at The Hon’ble High Court of Calcutta, shared, “In my lifetime, I haven’t seen such spontaneity in my city. At the stroke of midnight hour, 11:55pm, 14th of Aug, 2024, we were out on the streets. And I’m sure, every person who was out on the streets has felt what I have felt. There were no political parties, there was no doctor, no lawyer, no chartered accountant, no engineer, no businessman. We were all humans. Calcutta, which has given us Ram Mohan Roy and Iswar Chandra Vidyasagar, that Calcutta has shown that we can take to the streets if our patience is tested.”
Chunder emphasised on the self-introspection that we as citizens require at such an hour. “It is very easy to blame somebody. Of course, the system is responsible- but it is easier to affix the blame on them instead of looking inwards… The gross objectification of women that has been incessantly normalised needs to be put to a stop, and it all starts from our own drawing rooms.”
Adolina Ganguly, CEO and Founder of Institute of Personality and Image Management (IPIM), said, “It was my choice to be here and today it is your choice to take a decision, whether to discuss this in your households. Having been a student of Jadavpur University, I’ve witnessed a lot of micchils, protest and outrage – but I’ve never seen Calcutta like this. That is a message that we can give, that if we are together, we can seek justice, we don’t need to beg for it…A rapist doesn’t become a rapist in a single day. It is the education that the parents, the schools, the colleges, the whole society has to impart from a very young age on how to look at women, how to respect women.”
Ganguly added, “What have we done wrong as women that our mothers, our families have to constantly live in fear if we’re returning late? Why is this discrimination so normalised? We speak about empowerment and equal rights, yet when it comes to reality, we get reality checks every single day. It is my earnest request to all of you to not stop until justice is served. Please fight for her, please fight for us.”
Reshmi Bagchi, Journalist and Entrepreneur, shared, “I’d like to say something on behalf of all the women present here. Why have we made it so normal for young girls to learn about what is good touch and what is bad touch? From workplaces to public transports, why do we keep getting harassed? The one thing out of everything that does not require any form of research is punishment! Let them be given the severest of punishments so that the next time someone even thinks of committing such a crime gets terrified…I’m heartbroken. We all are. We need to be able to prevent this. We need to fight, and keep fighting. This is just the beginning.”
The vigil underscored the importance of community action, empathy, and self-introspection. It was a powerful reminder that by standing united, Calcutta can, and needs to create a safer and more equitable future for all its citizens.
