President Droupadi Murmu has raised her voice against the alarming increase in crimes against women, calling for serious self-reflection and action. Her message, shared on the official X account of the President, addresses the recent brutal rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata, expressing her horror and sorrow over the incident. In her heartfelt article titled “Women’s Safety: Enough is Enough,” she highlights the ongoing struggles women face and urges society to address the root causes of this violence.
The Gruesome Incident in Kolkata
“The gruesome incident of rape and murder of a doctor in Kolkata has left the nation shocked. I was dismayed and horrified when I came to hear of it. What is more depressing is the fact that it was not the only incident of its kind; it is part of a series of crimes against women,” President Murmu wrote. She expressed her dismay over the continuing atrocities against women, noting that even as people protested in Kolkata, similar crimes were happening elsewhere in the country.
A Civilized Society Must Protect Women
President Murmu emphasized that no civilized society can allow such horrors to be inflicted on its daughters and sisters. “The victims include even kindergarten girls. No civilized society can allow daughters and sisters to be subjected to such atrocities,” she stated. Her message highlights the urgent need for collective action to protect women and ensure their safety.
Personal Anguish and Optimism for Women’s Empowerment
Reflecting on her own journey and the progress made in women’s empowerment, President Murmu expressed her personal anguish over the continued brutality against women. “I consider myself as an example of that spectacular journey of women empowerment in India. But I myself feel deeply anguished when I hear about brutality against women in any part of the country,” she wrote. Despite the challenges, she remains optimistic about the potential for change and progress in empowering women.
Innocent Questions, Difficult Answers
President Murmu shared a poignant moment when schoolchildren visiting Rashtrapati Bhavan asked if there would ever be a time when incidents like the Nirbhaya case would no longer occur. “I told them that though the State is committed to protect every citizen, training in self-defense and martial arts is essential for all, particularly girls, to make them stronger. But that’s not a guarantee for their security as women’s vulnerability is influenced by many factors. Obviously, the full answer to that question can come only from our society. For that to happen, what is needed first of all is honest, unbiased self-introspection. The time has come when we as a society need to ask ourselves some difficult questions.”
A Call for Honest Self-Reflection
President Murmu urged the nation to confront the difficult questions that underlie the violence against women. “Where have we erred? And what can we do to remove the errors? Without finding out the answer to that question, half of our population cannot live as freely as the other half,” she emphasized. She called for a thorough examination of societal attitudes and practices that perpetuate inequality and violence.
The Constitution’s Promise and the Ongoing Struggle
“Our Constitution granted equality to all, including women, when it was only an ideal in many parts of the world,” the President wrote, highlighting the legal framework that supports gender equality. However, she also acknowledged that despite the efforts of the State, civil society, and visionary leaders, the journey toward women’s empowerment has been fraught with obstacles. “Women have had to fight for every inch of ground they have won. Social prejudices as well as some customs and practices have always opposed the expansion of women’s rights,” she added.
Challenging the Mindset Behind Crimes Against Women
President Murmu identified a pervasive mindset as the root cause of violence against women. “This is a rather deplorable mindset. I won’t call it a male mindset, because it has little to do with the gender of the person: there are many, many men who don’t have it. This mindset sees the female as a lesser human being, less powerful, less capable, less intelligent. Those who share such views then go further and see the female as an object. It is this objectification of women by a few that is behind the crimes against women. It is ingrained deeply in the minds of such people.”
A Global Issue Needing Comprehensive Solutions
She further noted that this mindset is not unique to India but is a global problem. “Let me also note here that, regrettably, this is the case not only in India, but across the world. Difference between one place and the next is more of a degree than kind. Countering this mindset is a task for both the State and the society,” she wrote. The President called for a unified effort by the State and society to combat this destructive attitude through laws, social campaigns, and a change in societal norms.
Learning from Tragedy
Reflecting on the tragic 2012 Nirbhaya case, President Murmu expressed concern over the recurring nature of such crimes. “In December 2012, we had come face to face with that element when a young woman was gang-raped and murdered. There was shock and rage. We were determined not to let another Nirbhaya meet the same fate. We made plans and devised strategies. These initiatives did make a difference to an extent. Yet, our task remains unfinished as long as any woman feels unsafe in the environment where she lives or works.”
Addressing Collective Amnesia
President Murmu warned against the dangers of collective amnesia, where society forgets past tragedies only to be shocked again when similar incidents occur. “In the twelve years since that tragedy in the national capital, there have been countless tragedies of similar nature, though only a few drew nationwide attention. Even these were soon forgotten. Did we learn our lessons? As social protests petered out, these incidents got buried into a deep and inaccessible recess of social memory, to be recalled only when another heinous crime takes place. This collective amnesia, I am afraid, is as much obnoxious as that mindset I spoke of.”
Facing History and Moving Forward
“History often hurts. Societies scared to face history resort to collective amnesia to bury their heads in the sand like the proverbial ostrich. Now the time has come not only to face history squarely but also to search within our souls and probe the pathology of crime against women,” President Murmu wrote. She emphasized the importance of remembering past victims and learning from these tragedies to prevent future violence.
A Call to Action for a Safer Future
President Murmu concluded her message with a call to action, urging the nation to work together to protect its daughters and ensure their freedom from fear. “We owe it to our daughters to remove the hurdles from their path of winning the freedom from fear. Then we can collectively give a firm answer to the innocent query of those children in the next Raksha Bandhan. Let us collectively say enough is enough.”
