Massive protests in India as women march to ‘reclaim streets’ after doctor’s brutal rape and murder

That's horrible. Very sorry to hear about what happened to your mother, IGuessIllbetheFirst

Awful, IGuessIllBeTheFirst.

My mother in law was raped by several Indian men while she was travelling in Goa with her DH during the 70s. They reported it to the police but were ignored and then felt they were at risk from retribution so they left for another state (and then home). She was hugely impacted by this and never really recovered.
So I think rape culture and hushing it up is nothing recent for India, I think now women are just beginning to speak up.

Thank you for creating this thread. I have tried to avoid reading the details because it would break my heart too much.

I couldn't sleep properly for days after the Nirbhaya case in 2012. Felt physically nauseous.

I hope the protests will lead to some improvements but it often feels like nothing changes. Women barely have any secure single-sex spaces. There's so much crime and corruption in India. 😔

Can you suggest more effective actions, Lentilweaver? Anything we can to do ahow support for Indian women?

I know the country very well. In fact, I am in India now.

Youve worked in those departments too I gather

I am of Indian heritage, travel widely in India as does my family, and I can tell you nobody will be checking that email or care. Sorry.
This is a vastly complex issue. Indeed, the Kolkata rape looks likely to be an act of revenge against a whistle-blower. Not that that makes it any less horrific.

You dont have to use it as a link, its an email address as well.
No you cant have a copy of what I said, but I told them that my family and I
were horrified at this case and all those like it.
That however beautiful your country such levels of unchallenged misogyny means our travel plans will now never include India, and that I will be encouraging my friends to follow suit.
Hope that helps

Posters may be surprised to know that the chief minister of West Bengal where the rape took place, is a woman. Mamta Banerjee. And not BJP.

This is an issue that transcends all parties.

My heart is breaking for the doctor and her family. She was just trying to rest after working a massive shift helping people.

The men who did this also covered it up and the story details emerging are getting worse and worse. Thank goodness India is standing up and protesting.

It makes me feel afraid of the world,

Thankyou for sharing - this didn't come up in my newsfeed so I've clicked on all the links to get them more prominence.
Brilliant wirk from these women - I hope the movement continues to grow.
When will men start to control themselves? Good men need to start to expect good attitudes and conduct from their friends associates and colleagues. They should call out misogynistic behaviour and challenge it when they see it.
Global corporations should run training on it and go zero tolerance among their staff- make it a gross misconduct sackable offence.
Media sources should name and shame offenders, create negative buzz around these disgusting men who promote that horrendous dangerous culture.
Women should encourage this from all those around them - women cant change a men's culture, they can only do it themselves with support from women and others.

Such awful news. Hardly made it here in the UK. Those brave women protesting - again.
The government in power - the BJP - are Hindu Nationalists who have no interest whatsoever in women's rights or safety. This is not the first incident of a horrific rape but perpetrators are often supported by their community, with pleas they should not have their lives ruined because they raped a woman who was obviously asking for it as she was out on her own, or with a friend, not her DF or DH or DB. Truly, this is put forward as an argument for leniency or for early release and the government supports it. Sickening lot.
My DS and DD have family in India and this impinges on the lives of their cousins, and of people I know. All power to the women of India.

https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/kolkata/rimjhim-sinha-a-social-science-researcher-first-voice-that-gave-the-reclaim-call/cid/2041066

Rimjhim Sinha is the woman who started the latest wave of 'Reclaim the Night' protests.

That looks good to me, Snowy.

This is my first draft effort, intending to send it to the High Commissioner. I really don't want to sound the wrong note. Please give honest feedback.

Dear (name and required honorifics)
I was very distressed to read about the young doctor who was raped and killed in the hospital in Kolkata. She is just the latest woman in India to be attacked or sexually assaulted.

I have always admired the ancient and rich culture of India but the country appears to have become so dangerous for women. What is being done to ensure the safety of women? The sexual violence of males occurs everywhere of course, including here in the UK, but it does seem to be endemic and increasing in India.

I salute the courage and determination of the women who are on the Reclaim the Night protest to honour the pain and suffering of the doctor and her family and demand justice for her and all the other victims of male sexual violence. I hope you will encourage your government to take their anger seriously and recognise the damage that the repeated incidence of this kind of crime is doing to the image of your wonderful country.

Thanks for your attention

Snowypeaks

Thanks so much, Arabella (and Omlettes for the nudge). I think I will send it to the High Commissioner. And you're right, I should keep it simple.

Appalling. Well done to the courageous women protesting and how appalling that there are worse places. Misogyny is rife.

I don't know if that's the best organisation to write to. I'll keep looking and try to think of others that might be worth writing to.

This is the function of the MoT:

https://tourism.gov.in/about-us-ministry-tourism/role-and-functions-ministry

There's also the High Commission of India:

https://www.hcilondon.gov.in/page-link/?page=contact

Email is: [email protected]

A letter doesn't need to be long.

'As a woman who has long wanted to visit India, can you assure me that it is a safe country for me to visit? The sexual violence of males seems to be endemic, and frightening.

I could not visit a country that appears to be so dangerous for women. What is being done to ensure the safety of women?'

Or something to that effect.

I found this address for the Indian Ministry of Tourism.

https://tourism.gov.in/contact-us

Brave women of India.

Well done. I'll do the same. The link doesn't seem to be working. Can I be really cheeky and ask you to repost it AND for a copy of what you said in your letter to adapt? I've got fatigue issues and my brain has gone to mush.

All power to the women of India. There’s ann excellent documentary called India’s Daughter about that famous case of the young women gang raped and murdered on a bus.
The most enraging part of the documentary is the interviews with men. To summarise. If a women puts herself in a vulnerable position she is completely to blame for anything men to do to her. The defending lawyer for the filth who murdered Jyoti Singh actually said ‘It takes two hands to clap’.
India tried to ban and block the documentary after it went viral. Their law doesn’t even allow Jyoti to be named in the movie. I suppose rape is seen as something so shameful for women that they need to be protected by men from being identified. Jyoti’s parents talk openly though.
I have actually cancelled plans for a trip to India since I saw that documentary. I have been there twice before and it remains the only country where I have been repeatedly physically groped.
Thank you for raising this topic.