In a city filled with the joy of Durga Puja, the streets of Kolkata witness a different kind of rally — one filled with anguish, resolve, and an urgent plea for justice. More than 50 senior doctors from R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital (RGKMCH) have tendered their resignation in solidarity with their junior colleagues, who have been on an indefinite hunger strike for over 60 hours. Their protest stems from the horrifying rape and murder of a fellow doctor on August 9, 2024. The situation has left the medical community devastated and deeply concerned for their safety.
“We will continue to serve patients for now, but the government must take action,” stated one senior doctor. This heartfelt declaration underscores the desperation felt by doctors who risk their lives daily, yet find themselves unprotected in state-run hospitals.
Seven doctors remain on hunger strike, their health rapidly deteriorating as they demand basic security — more police protection, CCTV cameras, and a safer working environment. The lack of response from authorities has pushed senior doctors across Kolkata’s state-run medical colleges to contemplate mass resignations, a clear message of solidarity and urgency.
As the doctors march, the public watches, unsure how a system designed to heal can be so deeply wounded. This movement is more than a protest; it is a cry for life, justice, and dignity. The government’s inaction is not just a delay in policy — it is a delay in saving the lives of the very people who save us.
Will the cries of Kolkata’s doctors be heard before more lives are lost to neglect?
Dr Upavan Pandya
MBBS, MD