l I was a student of RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, batch of 1958, and it is difficult for me to express how grateful I am to this institution, apropos the article “The other side of midnight,” published on August 23.
We consider our alma mater as our second mother, who nurtured us, taught us and kept us safe. I even met my late husband Dr C. C. Mitra in this institution. He was also a student there and went on to become a renowned gynaecologist. I spent a great part of my career in this hospital and retired as the head of the anaesthesiology department in 2000.
I am now 84, and age has now restricted my mobility, but till a few years back every time I stepped onto the premises of my alma mater, my head always bowed in respect, gratitude and love.
Today, when I see what has been done to my mother institution, I am heartbroken and filled with rage. I condemn the relevant government functionaries for allowing such an act to happen. I support the junior doctors and my fellow citizens as we keep fighting for justice for Abhaya and hope we will see that dawn when this darkness will be wiped out which has engulfed the healthcare system and society at large.
My blessings for the younger generation. May they carry on the torch of this noble profession with pride and honour.
Dr Asrukana Mitra,
AD Block
l Apropos the article “Festival of protest” published on September 13, our complex has been receiving government grants since the early years of its formation. But not this year. The incident at RG Kar has shaken our conscience and we realise that we need to go beyond our own personal boundaries and contribute for a greater cause.
Maitrayee Utsav Committee was formed in 2014 to organise social and cultural events for the residents of Mallika Malancha in New Town. A small committee formed by a few ladies to organise Durga puja has now become the powerful governing body to conduct not only cultural events and festivals but also social initiatives for the needy in our locality.
Our government grants began with Rs 10,000 and now stand at Rs 85,000 and every year a portion of this fund is used for social causes. But this year, we humbly decline the grant.
We have received full support from our residents and will be scaling down the festivities to perform only basic rituals so we can make up for the budget shortfall. Instead of spending this grant money for festive grandeur, we would like the government to use it to improve medical infrastructure and security of our healthcare fraternity so incidents like the one at RG Kar hospital never happen again.
Smita Chakraborty,
Secretary, Maitrayee Utsav
Committee, Mallika Malancha Housing Complex
l I have some observations apropos the September 6 article “Bring 'em up better.” I feel OTT platforms are largely responsible for the crime rate that has rocketed all over the world. There is nothing stopping children from watching the content on these and the age limit mentioned for the content is way off the mark.
A film that claims to be fit for 13 years and above is actually inappropriate to watch with your parents. What they claim is fit for 16 years can only be watched with your spouse and what they say is appropriate for 18 years cannot even be watched alone! The language and visuals are too much. Anything and everything is allowed on screen and considered to be normal these days. I feel these platforms put ideas in viewers’ heads and blur the lines between right and wrong.
As for the RG Kar case, how can such an incident occur in a government hospital? We can’t take any environment — home or workplace — for granted anymore. We have to be cautious and mindful at all times. And how is it that we have still not got justice?
The OJ Simpson trial (American rugby player charged but acquitted for killing his wife and friend in the 1990s) comes to mind. How could someone go scot-free despite all that evidence against him? History is just repeating itself.
Sumana Adhikari,
Sunny Fort, New Town
l I am happy that people are fighting for justice but we also need to educate women about their worth and their rights. Education starts at home and it is the duty of parents to educate their boys and girls equally about treating the other gender well, apropos “United we serve," published on August 30.
Recently at a "justice for RG Kar” march in Salt Lake, a roadside tea seller — and a woman at that — commented that rapes would not happen so widely back in the day. She said they had become frequent now, as women were not covering their bodies decently.
Then a gentleman came forward and corrected her, saying it was never the fault of the woman. The length of her clothes, habits or behaviour are no excuse for anyone to target her. The exchange proved that the message of these marches has still not reached every stratum of society. Rape is a heinous crime and women, particularly, must stop blaming other women for it. The more we blame the victim, the more the abusers get encouraged and feel shielded.
Pallabi Chatterjee
Rabindrapalli, Kestopur
l In this gruesome atmosphere, we need to pick the pen as a weapon of protest, apropos “Night to remember,” published on September 20.
FE Block’s puja souvenir has recently won The Telegraph Salt Lake Super Souvenir 2023 and I am a proud member of its publishing team. I am now planning to write an article or compose a poem on the RG Kar incident before the Pujas and every member of our team is in unison protesting with his or her pen.
Debraj Sengupta,
FE Block