Massive protests broke out across West Bengal following the alleged brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Medical College on August 9. The incident shocked the state and quickly escalated into a major movement spearheaded by the junior doctors, demanding justice for the victim and systemic changes to improve safety and working conditions in hospitals.
The protest gained momentum with a 15-day hunger strike, in which many of the protesting doctors fell ill due to the harsh conditions. However, as each participant collapsed, their place was immediately taken by other volunteers, showing the determination and unity of the medical community. The protest continued even during Durga Puja, Bengal’s biggest and most culturally significant festival. The situation became more tense when nine people, including doctors, were arrested for shouting “We want justice” at a pandal (a temporary structure set up for worship during the festival). A few days before, the police had also stopped the “Abhaya Parikrama” rallies organized by the doctors to raise awareness of their demands during the festival.
Despite the growing public support, political parties attempted to exploit the situation for their own gain. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) saw an opportunity to criticize the ruling state government, led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, and demanded her resignation. However, the BJP’s efforts soon lost steam, as their political maneuvers didn’t resonate with the public for long. Mamata Banerjee, on the other hand, understood that a resolution was achievable but knew that the opposition would likely use the issue to their advantage, complicating the process of negotiation.
The protests also saw temporary participation from Bollywood celebrities and saffron-clad monks, who marched to the Governor’s house and the Chief Minister’s office. However, their involvement seemed more performative than impactful, as they quickly disappeared from the scene, making little difference to the doctors’ cause. Even the BJP appeared to realize that women’s safety was not just a problem in Bengal but across the nation, including in states governed by the party. The issue was not one that could be solved through political theatrics alone.
Eventually, the junior doctors called off their indefinite hunger strike after a meeting with Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Although they secured some assurances from the government, there remained skepticism among the doctors about how genuine or lasting these promises were. Debashish Halder, one of the leaders of the protest, remarked after the meeting, “We did get the assurance of some directives, but the body language of the state government was not positive.” Despite this, the decision to end the strike came after heartfelt pleas from the public and the family of the deceased doctor, who were concerned about the deteriorating health of the protestors. Recognizing the overwhelming support they had received and the requests from the victim’s family, the doctors agreed to withdraw the hunger strike and cancel the planned shutdown of hospital services.
The protest had intensified after the horrific incident at RG Kar Medical College, where the 31-year-old doctor was found dead. This tragedy prompted a 50-day cease-work action that escalated into the hunger strike on October 5. The doctors put forward a 10-point list of demands that included justice for the victim, the immediate removal of Health Secretary N.S. Nigam, enhanced security measures in hospitals, and the improvement of essential infrastructure such as on-call rooms, CCTV coverage, and proper washroom facilities. They also demanded the implementation of a centralized referral system to better manage hospital admissions and bed occupancy.
The two-hour meeting with Mamata Banerjee was live-streamed from the state secretariat, Nabanna. During the meeting, the most divisive issues revolved around the removal of Health Secretary N.S. Nigam and the suspension of 47 doctors at RG Kar Medical College, who had been accused of creating a “threat culture” within the hospital. The doctors alleged that they had documents proving Nigam’s involvement in irregular activities, but Mamata Banerjee pushed back, insisting that no action could be taken based solely on accusations.
Despite the ongoing disagreements, the government agreed to address many of the doctors’ demands. This marked the end of the protest, bringing a sense of closure to an intense chapter in Bengal’s healthcare sector, though lingering concerns about the full implementation of the agreements remain.
