- True freedom cannot be achieved until every citizen, regardless of gender, can live without fear, enjoy equal rights, and receive the respect and dignity they deserve.
- The RG Kar Medical College affair is a stark example of systemic decay, with allegations of negligence, corruption, and incompetence within the hospital’s administration.
- The central government must stop its pretentious rhetoric and should have taken decisive action to ensure that such atrocities are met with genuine accountability and justice.
As India marks its 78th year of independence, the celebrations are marred by a grim reality that exposes the profound gaps in our pursuit of true freedom. Despite decades of progress, the harsh truth is that women across the country continue to face horrific levels of violence and discrimination. This Women’s Equality Day, while we celebrate the strides made in gender equality, we must also confront a chilling and uncomfortable reality: freedom remains incomplete as long as half our population still lives in fear.
In Kolkata, a city once hailed as the bastion of culture and intellect, the murder of a young physician at RG Kar Medical College has thrown the spotlight on a deeper issue. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has been tasked with probing this heinous crime, but the incident has exposed severe flaws in our protective systems and legal frameworks. The young woman allegedly attacked and killed while on duty, highlights a profound failure in ensuring the safety of women even in supposedly secure environments.
This tragedy exposes a broader issue: the pervasive failure to protect women despite our claims of progress. The RG Kar Medical College affair is a stark example of systemic decay, with allegations of negligence, corruption, and incompetence within the hospital’s administration. Such failures are symptomatic of a larger issue where crimes against women are not just about individual perpetrators but about a systemic breakdown that allows these atrocities to persist.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2022 presents a sobering picture: over 445,000 cases of crimes against women were reported, averaging a shocking 51 FIRs every hour. This data reveals the grim reality that millions of women endure daily—from sexual assault and abduction to domestic violence. These figures are more than statistics; they reflect a deep-seated issue in our societal structure where the safety of women remains precarious.
The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data from 2022 presents a sobering picture: over 445,000 cases of crimes against women were reported, averaging a shocking 51 FIRs every hour.
The heart-wrenching sexual assault of two four-year-old girls in a Maharashtra school underscores a similar pattern of systemic failure. The accused, a male school attendant with a history of offences, was employed without proper background checks and had unrestricted access to sensitive areas of the school. This case highlights not just the brutality of the crime but the catastrophic failures in institutional safeguards designed to protect the most vulnerable.
These incidents starkly contrast with the often-repeated victim-blaming narratives that suggest women and girls provoke sexual violence through their attire or behaviour. The cases involving toddlers and a young professional dismantle these harmful myths, revealing that sexual violence is not about victim provocation but about the perpetrator’s depravity and the systemic failures that allow such behaviour to go unchecked.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 15th August statement on women’s safety emphasizes the need for parents to instil values of respect and equality in their children, particularly sons. While this is an important message, it must be backed by tangible action and systemic reform. Respect for women should be an intrinsic aspect of our societal values, not conditional upon attire or behaviour. Until we ensure that every woman can walk the streets and every child can attend school without fear, our celebrations of Women’s Equality Day will remain hollow.
The failures in law enforcement, institutional integrity, and societal attitudes reflect a broader moral decay that needs urgent addressing. We must move beyond symbolic gestures and commit to meaningful changes that ensure safety, respect, and dignity for all women. The assault on these young girls and the tragic death of the physician serve as brutal reminders that the issue lies not with the victims but with a society and system that permits such crimes to persist. As we reflect on our independence and the progress made, let us also acknowledge the urgent need for a fundamental shift in how we protect and respect every member of our community.
Society must confront its collective moral decay. This case is a horrifying example of the increasing prevalence of sexual deviance and the failures in our protective systems. There is an urgent need for a cultural and systemic overhaul. We must reject harmful stereotypes and myths that blame victims and instead focus on rigorous background checks, timely reporting of abuse, and effective institutional responses.
Our society’s respect for human dignity must be reflected in our actions and systems, not just in our words. This means ensuring that every individual, regardless of age, gender, or circumstance, is guaranteed safety and respect. The assault of these toddlers serves as a brutal reminder that the problem lies not with the victims but with a society and system that allows such crimes to persist. As we grapple with the fallout from this horrific incident, let it be a clarion call for change. We must address the root causes of sexual violence, strengthen our protective systems, and create a society where every individual is safe from such atrocities. This is not just a call for justice but a demand for a fundamental shift in how we protect and respect every community member.
The ugly truth behind India's flimsy commitment to women's safety is revealed in Blame Game Politics.
True freedom cannot be achieved until every citizen, regardless of gender, can live without fear, enjoy equal rights, and receive the respect and dignity they deserve. The time for action is now. Our celebrations will remain a bitter reminder of the freedom we have yet to fully achieve until we address the systemic misogyny, corruption, and indifference that allow such atrocities to continue.
This failure reflects not just a breakdown in law and order but a failing of society at large. Our celebrations of freedom will remain hollow rituals until we confront the systemic misogyny, corruption, and indifference that permit such atrocities. True freedom cannot be achieved until every citizen, regardless of gender, can move freely, live without fear, and receive respect and dignity. It is time to question whether we genuinely act independently. After so many heartbreaking cases where women’s honour and lives are shattered, the call for real change becomes urgent.
Where is Accountability for the Screams in Manipur?
The horrifying assault of two Kuki-Zomi women on May 3, 2023, during the ethnic violence in Manipur exposes the central government’s utter failure to uphold justice and protect its citizens. Charged by the CBI, six police officers, including a juvenile, have been implicated in betraying these women by delivering them into the hands of a violent mob, resulting in their brutal sexual assault. The national government’s response has been shockingly indifferent, failing to address the severity of the crime or the systemic failures that allowed it to happen. The ghastly video that surfaced in July, showing the assault on a Kargil war veteran’s wife and another woman, revealed a grim reality hidden for over two months. The inaction and silence from the government in this case not only fail to honour the principles of justice and equality but also embolden offenders and demonstrate a deep-seated apathy towards the safety of marginalized communities. The central government must stop its pretentious rhetoric and should have taken decisive action to ensure that such atrocities are met with genuine accountability and justice.
The Sandeshkhali Case Exposes the Hypocrisy of TMC.
The TMC government has starkly revealed its hypocrisy by championing women’s rights while allegedly shielding criminals within its ranks. The Sandeshkhali incident, involving serious allegations of sexual assault and land theft against TMC chairman Shajahan Sheikh and his associates, uncovers a pattern of systematic abuse under the ruling party’s watch. Instead of confronting these grave issues, the TMC has deflected blame onto political opponents while neglecting the suffering of women under its governance. The National Commission for Women’s damning report exposes a troubling link between impunity and corruption, with the state government turning a blind eye and allowing those implicated to escape justice. As protests led by women continue to expose the TMC’s façade of commitment to law and order, it is clear that the party’s actions betray its true priorities, preserving its image over ensuring accountability and justice.
Congress Fails to Deliver Justice in Nirbhaya Case
The horrific gang rape and murder of Jyoti Singh, known as Nirbhaya, on December 16, 2012, starkly reveals the Congress-led UPA government’s dismal record on law enforcement. The eight-year delay in executing the guilty parties exposed the profound incompetence and indifference of the Congress government towards crimes against women. The government’s slow response, lack of urgency in establishing fast-track courts, and failure to restructure the legal system allowed the offenders to exploit every legal loophole despite widespread national uproar. This prolonged delay in delivering justice underscores a disregard for the dignity of victims and their families and highlights a failure to protect women’s rights.
The ugly truth behind India’s flimsy commitment to women’s safety is revealed in Blame Game Politics.
The harsh truth about women’s safety in a country that claims to revere them as goddesses starkly contrasts with these lofty ideals. The horrific Nirbhaya case of 2012, the atrocities in Sandeshkhali, and the suffering of women in Manipur all highlight how Indian political parties have reduced women’s safety to mere props for their vote-bank politics and blame games. Instead of tackling the root causes, political leaders rush to accuse each other whenever a horrifying crime against women makes headlines. The focus shifts from seeking justice to engaging in opportunistic rhetoric, pushing women’s suffering aside for political gain.
The tragedy worsens with the court’s handling of these cases, revealing a disturbing double standard. While criminals like Gurmeet Ram Rahim and other high-profile offenders manage to secure bail despite their grave crimes, victims of sexual assault are left battling for justice in court for years. The legal system, intended to protect the vulnerable, often serves as a shield for the guilty. The protracted Nirbhaya case, the repeated postponements of death warrants, and the manipulation of the court system underscore a bias against women. Unless political leaders and the judiciary prioritize efficient and timely justice over political manoeuvring and procedural delays, the pretence of treating women as goddesses will remain a bitter irony.
(Anjali Singh is a Postgraduate student in political science and international relations and a former ICWA research intern.)
Aayush Pal 
Balaji Subramanian 
Palak Dogra