Kolkata rape and murder case: Why it’s not enough to hold protests and candle-light vigils

According to some, “history was made” that night. For me, it was simply a sign of hope. A hope that we can still do more than just share angry, provocative social-media posts and cringey reels with emotional Bollywood numbers. That we can shake up an arrogant system to say that we won’t accept anything and everything that supercilious governments throw at us. It drilled a hole in the armour of overconfidence of a three-time-elected government, making it clear that no amount of muscle flexing can make up for dereliction of duty; that injustice will be met with strong resistance. A public protest as enormous as this, was the need of the hour. To remind, to underline what women want — to be treated with dignity first.

This cannot be achieved only by demanding justice for a single victim though. Every outrage, big or small, after gut-churning instances of gender violence should also focus on a bigger question: Why do we, women, need to “demand” justice, secure spaces, safe nights, and days, in the first place? Delivering justice on time, ensuring safe spaces for women cannot take the deep-rooted patriarchy out of society. But good governance may lower the risk of violence against women.

Yet, a government’s crackdown on gender crimes may bring results that are short-lived unless patriarchy is nipped in the bud. A man will not treat a woman as equal out of mere fear of punishment. It is a recognition of our biases and failings that can bring about change. And this can only start at home. As no man is born a rapist, it’s upon families, and society as a whole, to make a child (male and female) understand notions of equality, choice, and consent at an early age. They should be offered equal opportunities, at home and outside. Be it a school trip or a college fest that rolls into late at night, the parent’s permission to join in should not be based on their gender – so that the next generation of boys do not see a girl at night as a rare species at an odd time of the day.

I mention society at every step, because we – the ones privileged enough to identify patriarchy for what it is — need to step up and do our bit.The massive outpouring of protests over the doctor’s rape-murder should also make us look within and ask: What can we do to change the skewed gender narrative? We can start by taking tiny steps with ourselves, our children and the children of our domestic workers and vendors, introspecting on where we are going wrong, addressing the queries and curiosities of young minds, teaching them equality and, in the process, educating ourselves too.

A powerful protest to reclaim safe spaces for women may be reduced to just another anti-administration upsurge if we miss this crucial point. Our unease should prompt us to ask deeper, pertinent questions: Why do women have to be in a situation that necessitates us to ask for safety? Why can’t women be – just safe?

anamni.gupta@indianexpress.com