The Bengali diaspora in several countries has organised programmes in protest against the rape and murder of a junior doctor at R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital in Calcutta on August 9 and in solidarity with medical professionals agitating across India for protection at workplaces.

In Melbourne, Australia, a group of Indian expatriates, including students, professionals and community leaders, assembled to condemn the murder and demand justice for the victim.

The protesters carried banners and placards that highlighted their demand for a proper investigation, said Swastika Ganguly, who is from Garia in Calcutta but stays in Melbourne now.

The protest for the Justice of RG Kar incident in Melbourne. Anirban Datta

“We protested against the very reprehensible and heinous rape and murder that happened in Calcutta. We held a candlelight vigil and a protest march on August 18. Representatives of the Indian Doctors’ Association of Melbourne, Bengali professors at the University of Melbourne and many other Indians participated in the protest. Even some Australians joined us,” said Swastika.

She said around 300 Indians and Australians had joined the “peaceful protest” where they had raised slogans and delivered speeches to express their support for the deceased woman doctor.

“The gathering served as a way for the diaspora to raise international awareness of the incident and exert pressure on the Indian government and other authorities concerned for appropriate action,” Swastika added.

Another Bengali living in Melbourne who didn’t want to be named said they would continue the protest till justice was delivered to the victim’s family.

“We will not let it fizzle out. We sent emails to the Prime Minister’s Office and the high commissioner of India in Australia. Our message is loud and clear: despite being physically distant, we will not sit silent if such incidents happen in our country,” he said.

Similarly, Bengalis and Indians as a whole in the Netherlands held protests
against the 31-year-old doctor’s murder.

Parichay Bose, an IT professional from Jalpaiguri who lives in the Netherlands, said Bengalis and Indians living in Amsterdam and The Hague had gathered to express their solidarity with students of RG. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

According to him, hundreds, including the Dutch, assembled at both the places.

“Indian students, professionals and other community members were present in the protests. We demanded a safe and supportive environment for students in educational institutions across India,” said Bose.

Bidisha Banerjee, another ex-Calcuttan who lives in Amsterdam, said a candle march had been taken out on August 14, the same day when thousands of women had hit the streets across Bengal to “reclaim the nights”.

“As proud Bengalis from the land of Tagore, Netaji and so many stalwarts, we cannot allow this to continue. System change is essential and non-negotiable,” she said.

The candle march, she said, started from Amsterdam Centraal to Dam Square. They staged a protest with placards at Dam Square, a prominent location in the city.

Aliva Dey, another Bengali living in the Netherlands, said women are so safe in the country that they can roam around anywhere at midnight.

“Why can’t we think of something like that in our country? Unfortunately, doctors are not safe even in their workplaces. We are monitoring the developments and will continue our protests until justice is delivered,” said Aliva.