Verbal missiles being fired at each other by rival political parties on who should be blamed for the Kolkata rape-murder and subsequent developments are least likely to address the root cause and/or aid in ensuring safety as well as justice for the victim, her family and agitated doctors. Nevertheless, this certainly reveals the nature of “concern” displayed by several leaders in the case. If politicization of issues could solve abuses, Indian women are still being subject to, than rhetoric indulged in during electoral campaigns – assuring them of better life – would not have been primarily confined to stage of empty promises. In this context, Supreme Court’s decision to take suo moto cognizance of the case may add a little alacrity to the needed measures. But to assume that this shall actually spell immediate and effective implementation of the same would be equivalent to expecting a little too much and too soon. Further, the apex court’s move will also add more headlines and greater attention to the case for some more time. But for how long? Yes, how long?
Recently, a similar stand was taken by Supreme Court regarding death of three students at a coaching center in Delhi because of it being flooded by rain water. Undeniably, the Supreme Court is the highest judicial institution of the country and is known to raise at least a few political eyebrows as well as create headlines on issues that need to be given more importance than they actually are. With respect to Kolkata-case, it certainly has not remained a silent observer or has not chosen to lets it attention confined to other issues. But as suggested earlier, the tragedy is that even if judicial hammer strikes loudly, forcing the central as well as state governments to act decisively, the impact of these actions may not last long. Perhaps, those found guilty regarding the Kolkata-case may receive extremely severe punishment. Ample attention may be paid regarding the systemic lapses at RG Kar Hospital to ensure that lady doctors remain safe. These include arrangements for a rest room where doctors may take a break between their work hours. In addition, security may also be increased with installation of security cameras. Paradoxically, though many voices have been raised over lack of these and other facilities as well as services not much has been said about the lady doctor having taken a break after working for 36 hours. Doctors are human beings not machines. Nobody drives even cars continuously for 36 hours. Perhaps some law should be regulated making such long hours of service illegal. Unemployment problem is affecting Indian doctors. If the hospitals need more services of doctors, they can appoint more doctors rather than make their present employees work for long, endless hours. Besides, more attention needs to be directed to ensuring that other work places, including hospitals, have needed places for employees to take rest and adequate security services with cameras installed.
If the death of three students at the coaching center and Kolkata-case had not received substantial media coverage, the impact may not have been as profound as it appears to be. Perhaps, if the two cases had been ignored by media or had been confined to a few lines, not many may have learned about the same. Students and doctors may not have participated in their respective protests regarding the two cases. It is possible, the active coverage of both cases on social media posts may have compelled other outlets of media to accord substantial coverage to the two cases. The alacrity with which coverage of the two spread and its dominance on the media front may have prompted the apex court to give some attention to the same. The importance of communication at this level bears its importance. It may not be noted, communication in both cases spread instantly and literally like wild fire leading to people across the country pay great attention to them.
The situation is a little different in the case of Thane (Maharashtra) where two four-year old girls were molested in a school allegedly by the sweeper. The families of the two girls filed a complaint against the accused on 16 August. The matter, however, despite being a serious one didn’t receive much media coverage till the people of Thane district participated in a protest against the school authorities on 20 August. They also participated in a rail roko protest. Massive protest by people attracted media attention. What is worth noting is that till people, the concerned and those directly affected, raised their voices loudly, with great numerical strength, not much attention was paid to Thane-case. Besides, in all probability, messages/videos about the protest spread by some participants through their mobiles had a decisive impact on attracting media attention.
This is a clear reflection of the intensity as well as alacrity to which people’s command over their small tool of communication- the mobile- can spread their protest’s message beyond their circles to national as well as international circles. However, power of people’s communication has also repeatedly displayed its strength during India’s freedom struggle, their vote and at other levels. It depends primarily on how and when people choose to exercise it and at what levels. Now, it is to be watched, how does it continue to be exercised in context of Kolkata-case and for how long?
Here, one may draw attention to kidnapping and murder of siblings Geeta and Sanjay Chopra by Billa and Ranga. They were kidnapped and murdered on 26 August, 1978. The convicts were executed on 31 January, 1982. That was not the mobile age. Neither were there any reported protests against the murders. But the case did attract attention of the then Prime Minister Morarji Desai. Though Billa-Ranga case is now more or less confined to records, it seems, the execution of the criminals hasn’t had any major impact in preventing others from taking to the same path. Why?
Children are supposed to be viewed as angels, girls as sisters and similar such “values” are assumed to be strongly ingrained in the Indian thinking. But then, what lets to these being discarded repeatedly? With respect to power, people’s communication appears to have, till they – the people – play a more active role against this “disease” which exists practically at all levels in society as a whole, chances of even judicial hammer, new laws, political rhetoric, massive protests, media coverage and other such moves having any lasting impact seem least likely. In other words, it’s for the people to become practically assertive and decisive against women-abusers. They can, but will they? They have the answer. Simply speaking, even execution of one, two or more criminals may not help much!