In our everyday lives, we often overlook the seemingly small issues that later grow into insurmountable problems. Such negligence can lead to crises both in our personal lives and in society at large. This reality was starkly illustrated by a bizarre plumbing incident at my own home which reminded me the tragic events at RG Kar Medical College in Bengal.
For the past three days, cooking had come to a halt in our household because the kitchen sink couldn’t be used. Water had started flooding into the room through the area where the sink’s drainage pipe exited the floor. Living on the fifth floor, we were puzzled by how water could be entering our apartment so high up. Despite pouring various chemicals into the drain to clear the blockage, nothing seemed to work. The problem persisted, and soon the situation escalated—one morning, I woke up to find the entire floor flooded. This wasn’t the first time water had seeped in, but it had never been this severe. Finally, we decided to call a plumber.
What we discovered was nothing short of astonishing. A small banyan tree had taken root on the roof of our building. From the outside, it looked like any other sapling, harmless and unassuming. But its roots had grown into the drainage pipes, extending through the entire building and reaching the ground. These roots were blocking the pipes, preventing water from draining properly. To resolve the issue, the pipes across the building needed to be replaced entirely—had we noticed the problem earlier, we could have saved them.
This incident is a powerful metaphor for the way we handle problems in our bodies and society. Like a disease that silently spreads through the body, the roots of a crisis can grow unnoticed until they become impossible to ignore. By the time symptoms manifest, the damage is often extensive, just as the tree’s roots ruined our plumbing system. Similarly, societal issues that are ignored or downplayed can eventually lead to catastrophic outcomes.
The RG Kar Medical College incident serves as a grim reminder of this truth. The tragedy is not just another case of violence or malpractice—it is a wake-up call, highlighting the rot within our system. Every day, we hear about murders, rapes, and other heinous crimes, each one deeply tragic. But what happened at RG Kar is different, and it demands our attention.
1. The Unique Nature of the RG Kar Tragedy
The first thing that sets the RG Kar incident apart is the location. The hospital is a highly secure facility. Neither you nor I could easily access the third floor of the building where the incident occurred without passing through several layers of security. Even if a close relative is admitted, entry is restricted to specific times. Despite these stringent security measures, a doctor—arguably the most protected person in the building—was murdered. If someone within this secure environment could be killed, it raises alarming questions about the safety of everyone else in the hospital: nurses, midwives, patients, and other staff.
This incident shows how vulnerable we all are, even within spaces we assume to be safe. If such an atrocity can occur in a high-security hospital, what can happen to us on the streets or in our homes? The RG Kar case is incomparable to other incidents because it undermines our very sense of security. It exposes the fragility of the systems we trust to protect us.
2. The Hollow Promises of “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao”
The second point of difference lies in the societal implications of this tragedy. The central government’s “Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao” (Save the Daughter, Educate the Daughter) campaign is a well-known initiative, with its slogan emblazoned on countless vehicles and billboards across the country. However, the RG Kar incident reveals the hollowness of such slogans. Education alone cannot protect our daughters if the society they grow up in is fundamentally flawed.
The reality is that both sons and daughters need to be educated in a way that fosters true understanding and respect. Yet, the state and central governments seem more interested in superficial campaigns than in addressing the root causes of societal decay. Unqualified teachers are appointed in exchange for bribes, and educational standards are compromised by scams like the NTA and NET. Furthermore, the allocation of funds for education and research is continually reduced.
The RG Kar incident lays bare the fact that popular government initiatives are often nothing more than scams. Without real reform, these campaigns will do little to change the dangerous realities faced by women and girls in our society.
3. The Real Story Behind the RG Kar Incident
Finally, it is crucial to understand how the narrative around the RG Kar incident has been manipulated. While rape is a serious issue in Indian society, the way it has been framed as the main theme of this case is misleading. In this instance, rape seems to have been used as a distraction from the real story—murder. The true motive behind the RG Kar incident appears to be murder, with rape as a secondary act of violence.
This distinction is significant. The Delhi Nirbhaya case, for example, was primarily about rape, with the murder being a consequence. In contrast, the RG Kar case suggests that murder was the primary objective, with rape used to obscure this fact. The authorities’ handling of the case since the morning of September 9th only reinforces this theory. Even the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court, with thirty years of judicial experience, has commented on the unprecedented nature of this case.
Those who compare the RG Kar incident to other cases either fail to grasp its importance or are deliberately trying to downplay it. Every act of violence, whether murder or rape, is tragic. But the RG Kar incident is unique in its implications, and it demands a different level of scrutiny and response.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the RG Kar incident is a stark reminder of the dangers of neglect—both personal and societal. Just as the roots of a tree silently destroyed our building’s plumbing system, unchecked societal issues can lead to catastrophic outcomes. The tragedy at RG Kar Medical College is not just another violent incident; it is a symptom of deeper problems within our society. If we continue to ignore these issues, we risk more than just our personal safety—we risk the future of our entire society. It is time to pay attention, take action, and ensure that such a tragedy never happens again.
