Sexual Assault in Bengal

Rape, often referred to as sexual assault, molestation, or violation, is a violent act of dominance and power, forced upon another individual. The psychological motivations behind such acts are complex and can include a desire to punish, seek revenge, inflict pain, prove sexual prowess, or exert control through fear. Survivors of rape often experience deep psychological trauma, including feelings of perpetual defilement, an inability to feel clean, overwhelming vulnerability, and a paralysing sense of powerlessness.

The recent horrific rape of a Doctor in Calcutta has sparked widespread outrage among women, who are expressing their distress—rightly so. However, it’s disheartening to see that beyond the usual outcry about safety, there hasn’t been much reflection on the root causes of such violence. Having grown up in India and lived there until the age of 47, I can attest that I always felt safe in the country. As a working woman, I travelled alone at all hours due to work demands, moving between cities, and living as a single woman in places like Bangalore, Mumbai, and Gurgaon. I never felt limited or constrained in my personal safety. On the other hand, I have felt unsafe walking on some streets in New York and neighbourhoods in Philadelphia and Charlotte in the U.S. As a mother of two daughters raised in India, I was naturally concerned about their safety, but I never felt the need to restrict them or teach them to live in fear, be constantly on guard, or be suspicious of the motives of those around them.

I'm sharing my experience because a serious issue like rape often gets trivialized by oversimplification. Statements like "Our daughters aren't safe in India," "All men are bad," "You can't trust anyone these days," or "India is the rape capital of the world" are misguided and unhelpful. India is safe, not all men are bad, you can trust people, and given the population, India is not the rape capital of the world. If you've stayed with me this far and are still interested in moving forward, let's address the Bengal rape issue with honesty and engage in a deep, serious discussion about what needs to be done to prevent such acts from happening again.

Since Mamata Banerjee (Founder & Chairperson TMC) became the Chief Minister of West Bengal in 2011, the state has seen significant violence, particularly around elections. West Bengal has a long history of political violence, and this has continued under her leadership. The state consistently records some of the highest numbers of political killings in the country, with an average of about 20 such killings per year since 1999. The 2019 Lok Sabha elections, saw 47 political killings involving workers from the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the 2023 panchayat elections witnessed 50 deaths. 

The situation has been so dire that even the Calcutta High Court has taken cognizance of the violence, leading to widespread criticism of the TMC government for allegedly protecting perpetrators and weakening the police force. Allegations of violence against women, particularly by TMC members, have been a significant concern. In one recent case, tribal women in Sandeshkhali accused TMC supporters of rape and assault, sparking protests and clashes across the state.

Under Mamata Banerjee's 13-year rule, the increase in crime, both state-sanctioned and societal, appears not just as an inevitable consequence but as a deliberate design of her authoritarian governance. Banerjee's administration has employed violence and intimidation to suppress dissent, involving unlawful arrests, torture, and extrajudicial killings, effectively dismantling the rule of law. The deliberate weakening of the police force and the reliance on corruption as a means of control have further exacerbated the lawlessness in West Bengal.

An honest statement addressing the root cause of the brutal rape in Bengal, will be: "A despotic, corrupt, and violent woman Chief Minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee, is responsible for the deteriorating state of law and order in the state, which has resulted in such a heinous crime."

It's commendable to stand up for a cause, but it's crucial to ensure that your assertions are informed and substantive. I urge women to rally against leaders like Mamata Banerjee, who have demonstrated a pattern of violence, corruption, and power hunger. Banerjee has repeatedly shown her disregard for human dignity and life, making it clear that she is unfit to lead with the integrity and respect that the people of West Bengal deserve.

The irony is that the lady in question is playing the victim card and protesting against the rape to herself in an attempt to gas light her vote bank. Women are not victims and any woman who plays that card is the biggest enemy never be taken in by those gimmicks, remember “The victim mindset will have you dancing with the devil, then complaining that you're in hell.”