A controversial sculpture outside an Indian hospital, where a doctor was raped and murdered, has caused a stir and outraged many. The statue depicts a woman in obvious distress, with her head thrown back and eyes wide open, symbolizing pain and suffering.
The incident that sparked the creation of this statue occurred at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata, West Bengal, where a 31-year-old trainee doctor was found dead during her demanding 32-hour work shift in August. Subsequent investigations confirmed that she had been sexually assaulted.
In response to this tragedy, protests and demonstrations demanding justice for the victim and improved safety for healthcare workers have been ongoing in Kolkata for the past two months. Junior doctors, who recently resumed their strike, unveiled a fibreglass bust titled ‘Cry Of The Hour’ inside the hospital grounds to honour the memory of the deceased doctor.
The sculpture, created by artist Asit Sain, portrays a woman screaming in anguish, capturing what is believed to be the victim’s final moments. Accompanying the statue is the sound of a screeching woman’s voice playing in the background, intensifying the emotional impact.
While the statue was intended as a form of protest and a memorial to the victim, it has been met with mixed reactions. Some individuals commended the artwork for its powerful message, while others criticised it as insensitive and disturbing for allegedly immortalising the victim’s pain.
Following the backlash, the junior doctors clarified that the statue does not depict the victim herself but rather serves as a representation of the suffering and turmoil she endured, as well as a tribute to the ongoing protests for justice.
Critics, including former lawmaker Kunal Ghosh, have expressed their disapproval, labelling the sculpture as overly empathetic to the point of mockery. Despite differing opinions, the unveiling of the statue was described by a colleague of the deceased doctor as an emotional moment and a way to ensure that her memory is not forgotten.
In response to the growing outrage and demands for justice, thousands of doctors and residents of Kolkata took to the streets in protest, reiterating their calls for improved workplace safety and addressing the issue of sexual violence in society.