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The tragic rape and murder of a doctor unveils India’s deep social crisis

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A woman holds a candle during a vigil condemning the rape and murder of a trainee medic at a government-run hospital in Kolkata, on a street in Mumbai, India, August 14, 2024. REUTERS/Francis Mascarenhas

In the sacred halls where life begins and ends, where pain is soothed and hope is kindled, a young doctor’s life was brutally snuffed out. On August 9th, the body of a 31-year-old doctor trainee was discovered at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata — raped and murdered in a place meant to heal.

Doctors in India have long been revered, seen as demigods in white coats. But this tragedy rips away the illusion of invincibility, exposing the harsh reality faced by healthcare workers, especially women.

Across the nation, doctors and nurses have taken to the streets, their voices rising in a chorus of outrage and demand. They’re not asking for higher salaries or better equipment. Their plea is far more basic and heartbreaking: “Keep us safe while we save lives.”

The call for “airport-level security” in hospitals might seem extreme, but it underscores the depth of fear gripping the medical community. Imagine a world where entering a hospital feels like passing through customs — a necessary evil to ensure that those who heal us don’t become victims themselves.

But the issue runs deeper than metal detectors and security guards. It’s about creating an environment where women can rest without fear, where the night shift doesn’t feel like a…

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Astra Politics by Antonio De Santis
Astra Politics by Antonio De Santis

Written by Astra Politics by Antonio De Santis

Globetrotting PPE student by day, international relations aficionado by night. That’s the gist of me in a nutshell

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