The chants ‘Justice for Abhaya’ and ‘Justice for R.G Kar’ reverberated with might outside the Newcastle Civic centre on 8 September as the Newcastle community gathered in solidarity to demand justice for ‘Abhaya’.
On 9 August 2024, 31-year-old PGT doctor by the name of Abhaya, was brutally raped and murdered at Kolkata’s R.G Kar Medical College and Hospital in a heinous act of pure violence. The young trainee doctor’s body was discovered on campus, in a seminar hall, where the horrific act was said to have taken place whilst she was on duty during a 36-hour shift.
However, the following actions taken by Indian authoritieshave been a cause of major concern as justice for Abhaya and her family has been drastically delayed and inadequate since her death was initially ruled as a ‘suicide’. The delays in receiving justice and the disrespectful handling of Abhaya’s case has sparked mass outrage and a widespread demand for accountability by the Indian authorities.
Image: Tiyanna Mistry
There have been over 130 global protests taking place across the world, including Newcastle Upon Tyne, where the North East community have banded together in solidarity to create a human chain to demand justice and express their anger and sorrow for Abhaya and for women across the world.
The Newcastle demonstration was organised by North East resident, Sharmista Chatterjee-Banerjee who is originally from Kolkata. When expressing her contempt at this horrific crime, she says “I am not just devastated but absolutely ashamed that a girl’s safety was compromised when she was at work on duty”.
She went onto to describe how important the North East and global solidarity is when demanding justice and the importance of workplace safety for women, “We constantly strive for an equitable society. We talk about equality, diversity, and inclusion but this cannot be achieved if we do not have workplace safety and therefore this is not just a cause for India or the developing world but a global cause”
She says, “we as a global community are coming together in Newcastle and around the world to ask Indian authorities for accountability”.
Sharmista was joined by various residents across the North East including doctors, medical students, councillors Doc Anand and Irim Ali, and individuals passionate about seeking justice. The demonstration began with various speeches by these ardent individuals expressing their outrage and making clear their demands for accountability by Indian authorities.
Image: Tiyanna Mistry
Retired GP and prominent Gosforth councillor, Doc Anand expressed his commitment to the cause. He told Asian Standard: “I can’t say I’m delighted to be here, but I feel it is my duty to be here” as an Indian man.
He went on to describe his outrage at the mistreatment of women, “we come from a country where the president is a woman, the chief minister of that state is a woman, the current finance minister is a woman… we say, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ (‘Victory to Mother India’) and yet this hideous crime has happened to a young woman”
The violent crimes against women and their bodies continues to be a persistent issue not just across India but across the globe, making clear why protests like these are so incredibly vital in spreading awareness and advocating for change.
Cllr Doc who previously made a movie titled ‘Daughter of the Earth’, which explored misogyny and the might of women, also went onto express the importance of male solidarity concerning such crimes. He describes how this is not solely a woman’s fight but everyone’s, saying, “if you are a decent man you will stand up against immorality” and “We have to talk about it, we can’t brush it under the carpet anymore because we are all interconnected”.
The Cllr ended by saying “I hope we make such a noise that we end this and put a stop to such crimes” and “I hope women take over the world!”, in a profound declaration of his support for this cause and his commitment to achieve justice for ‘Abhaya’.
Image: Tiyanna Mistry
The group of demonstrators also included amazing singers and speakers who recited ‘Aar Kobe’ and ‘Ekla Cholo’ which are poignant Bengali songs that cry for justice and explore the depths of human justice and resilience in the face of struggle.
The might and dedication of this Newcastle community exemplifies the power and importance of human camaraderie in the face of corruption.
They made it known that this demonstration was not about numbers or social media presence but about direct action.
Their slogan ‘from me to we’ reflects the profound dedication to speaking out as a community and ensuring that changes are made regarding workplace safety for women in an improved and equitable society.
