Almost two and a half months after the horrific rape and murder of a postgraduate doctor at Kolkata’s RG Kar Hospital, a new controversy has erupted. This time, the focal point is a statue, named ‘Cry of the Hour,’ installed near the hospital by protesting junior doctors. The statue, according to the artist Asit Sain, depicts the victim’s last moments of terror.
A junior doctor, speaking to reporters, explained that the statue is not meant to be a portrait of the victim but rather a symbol of the pain and torture she endured. However, the installation has drawn criticism from several quarters, with many calling it disrespectful and disturbing.
Social media users expressed their outrage, with one tweet stating, “Want her statue to be erected? Do it with anything other than it being her agonised face or whatever. Whatever the f*** this is, is highly disturbing.” Another user criticized the doctors’ sensitivity, questioning why they would create a statue based on a rape victim.
The sentiment was echoed by Trinamool Congress leader Kunal Ghosh, who slammed the doctors for violating Supreme Court guidelines that prohibit revealing the victim’s identity. He tweeted, “No responsible person can do that. Not even in the name of art. There will be protests and demands for justice. But the statue is not right with the face of the girl in pain. There are guidelines not to use victim’s pictures or statues.”
However, Dr. Debdutt of RG Kar hospital defended the installation, stating that they had not broken any rules or disregarded the court’s order. He emphasized that the sculpture is symbolic and not meant to depict only the victim but rather to highlight the severity of her suffering and the need for justice.
The original incident occurred on August 9th, when the trainee doctor was raped and murdered at the hospital. Following the horrific crime, protests erupted in Kolkata, and the case was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) for investigation. The case is currently sub-judice, with the Supreme Court periodically hearing updates.
The statue’s installation has reopened the painful wounds of the case, sparking a debate on sensitivity, artistic expression, and respecting the victim’s dignity in the face of tragedy. While the junior doctors intend to use the statue as a powerful symbol of their fight for justice, its portrayal of the victim’s suffering has unfortunately become a source of further controversy.
