'Won't Forget', 'Disrespectful': 'Abhaya' Bust Installed At Kolkata's RG Kar Campus Sparks Controversy

A bust, titled ‘Abhaya: Cry of the Hour’, to honour the trainee doctor raped and murdered at Kolkata’s RG Kar hospital, has left people divided. Some, including senior TMC leader Kunal Ghosh, called it “disrespectful” and others said it is “required”.

The sculpture depicts a woman throwing her head back, screaming in agony. It was unveiled by junior doctors on protest on Wednesday (October 2) on the occasion of ‘Mahalaya’, which marks the beginning of ‘Devi Paksha’ in the Hindu calendar, believed to herald the start of Durga Puja when devotees invoke the goddess to descend.

Junior doctors said they will remember their colleague this way, but said this is a “symbolic representation” of what she went through. There is, however, no official information on whether the creation is a likeness of the victim. The Supreme Court has directed that no intermediary is allowed to publish the name and photo of the RG Kar victim.

Many on the internet slammed the move to install the bust, calling it “disgusting” and “insensitive” while others said it will help them “not forget” what happened to the doctor. Objecting to the statue on the grounds that it was against the court’s directions, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: “The installation of this statue in the name of Tilottama is against the spirit of the Supreme Court pronouncement. No responsible person can do that. Not even in the name of art. There will be protests, demands for justice. But the statue with the girl’s face of pain is not right. There are guidelines in the country…” he wrote on X.

The protesters said the sculpture, which has been made by artist Asit Sen, is a symbol of the ghastly act that took place on August 9 and also of the ongoing agitation demanding justice. “This statue is not of the victim, but a symbol of pain, torture she went through and the ongoing protests,” a junior doctor told reporters.

Mega rally on ‘Mahalaya’

Junior doctors, joined by people from all walks of life, took out a protest march on Mahalaya, demanding justice in the RG Kar case. They vowed to continue their protest till there was decisive action from the government.

The protest march was organised by the Bengal Junior Doctors’ Front. It began at College Street and ended in Esplanade area. “We are not in a puja or ‘utsav’ mood, and we will continue protesting on the streets till our sister gets justice. We have chosen this day of Mahalaya to send out this message,” said one of the protesters, identifying herself as a colleague of the deceased.

Carrying placards and national flags, the protesters raised slogans, asserting they will not rest until justice is served. “We will not give up. This is about our safety, our dignity, and justice for Abhaya. The government cannot expect us to remain silent while they do nothing,” said an agitating junior doctor, while addressing the crowd.

The protesters gathered on the banks of Ganga, lighting 1,000 diyas as a symbolic act in their fight for justice. “Today is the 52nd day of our protest, and we are still facing attacks. There is no positive response from the state government toward meeting our safety and security demands,” said Aniket Mahato, one of the agitating junior doctors, addressing the crowd at Esplanade.

The protesters, mostly junior doctors, resumed their ‘cease work’ stir on October 1, accusing the West Bengal government of failing to fulfil promises made in mid-September.