Junior doctors at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata have unveiled a sculpture titled Cry of the Hour to pay tribute to the 31-year-old postgraduate trainee doctor who was brutally raped and murdered on August 9. The sculpture, crafted by renowned artist Asit Sain, is intended to symbolize the victim’s pain and trauma. Positioned on a pedestal in front of the PGB Gardens near the principal’s office, the statue stands as a stark reminder of the incident.
The fibreglass sculpture depicts the bust of a woman screaming, meant to embody the agony endured by the victim, referred to as ‘Abhaya’. An inscription on the pedestal states that the statue reflects the “hellish brutality” the doctor suffered during the tragic incident at the hospital. A junior doctor expressed to The Indian Express: “She was our colleague. We have been fighting for her. This installation ensures no one will ever forget her.” Another doctor added, “This statue is not of the victim, but a symbol of the pain and torture she went through, and the ongoing protests.”
#justiceforAbhya
“Cry of the Hour”“The Agony, the Pain, the Suffering…
A poignant depiction of the unbearable trauma Abhaya enduredToday A #statue erected in memory of the rape and murder victim at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital”#MedTwitter #medX #rgkarprotest pic.twitter.com/Pek84iAsNj
— Indian Doctor🇮🇳 (@Indian__doctor) October 2, 2024
The unveiling of the statue comes amidst ongoing protests by junior doctors demanding justice for the victim and improved safety measures for healthcare workers. On Wednesday, thousands of junior doctors participated in a protest march organized by the Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front. The march, which began at College Street and ended in the Esplanade area, signified a fresh escalation in the doctors’ agitation.
While the intentions behind the statue were to honor the victim, it has received significant backlash on social media for being perceived as disrespectful and tone-deaf. Critics questioned the decision to create a statue based on a rape victim, calling the depiction “weird and disrespectful.” One X user commented, “Indian women can’t even be remembered with pride. It’s either perpetually being in pain or being forgotten.” Others criticized the insensitivity of the statue’s design and its potential to retraumatize those affected by the tragedy.
Despite the controversy, junior doctors remain steadfast in their demand for action. “We will continue our protest until the government takes decisive steps to ensure the safety of healthcare workers,” one of the protestors said. The unveiling of the statue has not only reignited conversations around the tragic incident but also highlighted the ongoing struggle for better security measures within healthcare institutions in India.
