When Justice Fails: Dr. Balbir Singh Gandhi on the Kolkata Rape Case and Systemic Betrayal
Image source: Business Standard
The recent horrifying rape and murder of a medical student in Kolkata is not just another statistic in the cycle of violence against doctors; it’s a brutal betrayal of trust. In a state led by a woman, where promises of safety should hold weight, the government has failed its own daughters — students, and professionals — who sought nothing more than a secure environment to pursue their noble work.
This case is not just about a workplace assault — it’s about a young woman who dared to say no to the rampant corruption in the medical education system. She refused to give in to the demands of her seniors, choosing instead to fight for integrity. Her courage was met with the ultimate price — an assault so vile that it was brushed off as suicide, a narrative all too familiar in a system that silences those who challenge it.
Dr Balbir Singh Gandhi said, “I am a second-generation doctor, and my children, too, have chosen this profession, studying at prestigious government colleges. But today, as a parent and a doctor, I find myself questioning how we can encourage young students to enter a profession where their safety, dignity, and even their lives are at constant risk. The simplest right we deserve is a safe working environment. Nobody sends their children to study medicine expecting them to be raped or murdered during a night shift.”
Dr. Balbir Singh Gandhi (ENT Specialist at Sukhmani Hospital)
The 2012 Nirbhaya case shook the conscience of an entire nation. Despite the protests, strikes, and temporary outcry that follow such incidents, we always return to the same broken system. Today, it’s not just about women’s safety; it’s about the crushing of those who dare to challenge a corrupt, entrenched system.
How do we protect our children, not just physically, but morally? How do we teach them to raise their voices when those who do are silenced so cruelly? If the sanctity of this noble profession is not safeguarded, who will want to serve? We need more than platitudes — we need accountability and systemic change before we lose more lives and the ideals that make this profession noble.
Sukhmani Hospital and team stands with the resident doctors of RG Kar Medical College and those protesting against this heinous crime across the country. We pray for the victim’s family and for justice to be brought with immediate action.
