The Bengal in which I was proud of disappointed me …
I loved Bengal, Mahasweta Devi, Matangini Hazra, Bina Das, Suhasini Ganguly’s land, which stood, who stood back, fought back and led the revolutions, are being buried under silence and shame. And we are allowing it to happen.
,All these are Sirf Delhi, Haryana Meen Hota. Bengal is different. ,
She used to be my shield against the line, half in pride, half in self-consciousness, against many taunts about West Bengal. but not anymore.
I wore my Bengali identity as a shield. Born in Rasila and grew up, green expansion of North Bengal. I am confident that my kingdom was progressive, culturally rich, and most important, safe.
Perhaps that’s why when I went to Delhi about a decade ago, first for my guru, then a job, my parents let me go with great hesitation. “Money may be reduced here,” he said, “But Bengal is safe.”
Even after I left, I clung to that belief. Whenever Bengal was criticized, I always had a ready vengeance for lack of jobs, collapse of infrastructure, failing in healthcare, or being unfriendly for businesses:
“At least we are not India’s ‘capital of rape’.”
I never left a chance to protect my kingdom. Yes, our GDP was slipping. Yes, we were behind Tamil Nadu and Maharashtra. Yes, our youth were migrating to work.
But deeply, I captured one thing: West Bengal is safe.
but not anymore.
It started with a case that still sends my spine down.
One of the most respected institutions in Kolkata, RG Kar, a medical college and a seminar room in the hospital, was raped and murdered by only 31, a young postgraduate medical student. His body was found behind a curtain covered with a hospital bedsheet. His dignity was violated in a space for learning and treatment.
Crime was frightening. but later? even worse.
There were allegations of molestation of the crime site. The parents were cheated, kept in the dark about the important details of his daughter’s death. Former principal, hospital staff and even civil volunteers were accused of botting, or worse to cover evidence. The hospital appeared more worried than the damage control, rather than demanding justice.
This was followed by protests. An outrage for justice. There is a demand that such a nightmare should never be allowed to be repeated.
There was a 42 -day strike for doctors, several FIRs, and intervention for the Supreme Court’s CBI inquiry. Decision? The prime accused, Sanjay Roy, was convicted for the rape and murder of a junior doctor.
But does his parents and well-wishers feel closed, this is another question.
And as soon as people were trying to go back to their lives, Bengal was shocked again.
On June 25, another case, another young woman.
A 24 -year -old law student, a security guard room by three people inside a college campus, was done by three people.
One of the accused, Mononed Mishra allegedly stopped him from his first day in college. A former member of Trinamool Chhatra and a college staff, with someone’s effect, and clearly, with fear of result, with effects.
According to the investigation, the attack was predetermined. It was filmed, allegedly to be used for blackmail.
In both these cases, the place of crime was not once, not a club, park, hotel, or a slowly burnt street, not to woo anyone to dismiss them. Sajano Ghotona (Fabricated cases).
No, these attacks took place inside a medical college. A law college.
Let’s stop at it: A law college, where justice should be studied, debate, intact.
Do not have your daughter or sister to apply there next year?
So I ask: Where is the security?
How did our hospital and college become breeding basis for rapists?
How did a state that herself be proud of progressive ideals, intellectualism and legacy of revolution became so numb?
Have we stopped the drama to care?
What makes it even more unbearable makes the ruling party connection in both cases.
Prominent accused in the rape case of Law College were pending at least five criminal cases against him, including sexual harassment and attempt to murder.
This is not just political opportunism when the opposition raises questions. This is basic human decency. Why no action was taken?
In the 2024 report, Wire It was learned that between August and November 2023 alone, Bengal reported 42 cases of molestation, rape and gang rape. The details range from rape and murder to disintegration and dumping of bodies in rivers.
Allow to go to that sink: This is not a data for a decade. It has been for three months.
And here is the most disturbing part: the numbers we know can only be the tip of the iceberg.
A study published in Hindustan Times Maitresh Ghatak and Tanika Chakraborty by economists separated the myth of Bengal’s “security” based on NCRB data.
“While it is difficult to indicate the range of reporting bias,” Chakravarti writes, “when we compare NFHS and NCRB data, it suggests a reporting bias in NCRB’s offense against female data in West Bengal in the last decade.”
For bin calling, the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) is a large-scale, multi-gol survey held in representative samples of homes across India.
Therefore, not only crimes are increasing, we cannot count them right.
These are not upset. They are alarm.
They shout that some are fundamentally broken in our institutions.
We need accountability, yes. But more immediate, we need honesty.
I loved Bengal, Mahasweta Devi, Matangini Hazra, Bina Das, Suhasini Ganguly’s land, which stood, who stood back, fought back and led the revolutions, are being buried under silence and shame.
And we are allowing it to happen.
