During the global protests sparked by George Floyd’s tragic death, his young daughter’s innocent yet powerful declaration—“My dad has changed the world!”—resonated deeply. Floyd’s murder became a catalyst for change, a rallying cry of “I can’t breathe” that swept the globe.
Today, our sister, our daughter, ‘Abhaya,’ stands as a similar beacon of transformation. Her brutal murder has shattered our silence, broken our chains of fear, and awakened us from the depths of submission. She, too, has changed the world.
No longer will we stand by and let this suffocation persist—inside and outside our medical profession. In this oppressive atmosphere, stifling conditions plague us daily, eroding not only our dignity but also our very ability to breathe. While the outside world in this state is suffocating, it is within our professional fields that we endure an equally unbearable, relentless assault on our integrity and self-respect.
Take R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital, now infamous not just for the tragic loss of a young doctor but for the deep-rooted corruption and rampant criminal activities festering within. What happens at R.G. Kar is not isolated—it mirrors the decay that has spread across all state-run medical institutions. These places have become laboratories for exploitation, extortion, and brazen looting, orchestrated by a ruling clique who manipulate every system for their gain.
The scandalous tales are countless, but here are just a few:
1. Medical Examination Corruption: From question paper leaks to mark tampering after scores are finalized, mass cheating, and even access to illegal net services during exams—anything is possible for the right price. In one prestigious college, almost all students scored Honours, except a student who missed it by four marks. After requesting a review, his marks plummeted to a disgraceful 36. The reviewer openly admitted to not even reading the script, merely tallying the previously awarded scores!
2. The North Bengal Cartel: A notorious gang with unchecked control over Swasthya Bhaban, their leaders often aren’t even in the health services but wield extraordinary power, protected by the highest authorities.
3. The Untouchables: One such power player, Dr. Sushanta Roy, despite being WBHS cadre, enjoys the status of an OSD in Swasthya Bhaban, complete with a blue-light VIP car.
4. Health Recruitment Board Corruption: This body has become a cesspool of malpractice and corruption, where positions are bought and sold in a laissez-faire fashion.
5. COVID-19 Loot: During the pandemic, hundreds of crores were siphoned off under various guises, particularly for PPE procurement. To date, there has been no proper accounting. Meanwhile, Dr. Avik De, a gang affiliate, has secured an MD course through dubious means linked to COVID marks.
6. Tender Manipulation: In R.G. Kar, tenders for all purchases are manipulated and awarded to cronies of Dr. Sandip Ghosh. This corruption is the standard.
7. Mockery of Resignation: Despite tendering his resignation in the morning, Dr. Sandip Ghosh was transferred to another Kolkata medical college within hours. It’s an affront to accountability.
For too long, this was the norm—protests were raised, but they never made a difference. That all changed on the fateful day of August 9th. Abhaya’s murder has triggered a seismic shift, and the tables have turned. The corrupt have retreated into hiding.
Abhaya, though unaware, has become the spark of a historic uprising. Her murder has ignited a movement, and now, in unison, people are rising to topple this regime of kleptocracy and lootocracy. This awakening is like no other.
Her killers had no idea what they unleashed. Nor did the powers that shielded them foresee the force now set in motion. But it is too late for them—their reckoning is inevitable. Every one of them will face justice. There will be no mercy. They will not be forgiven. Never.
29/8/24
The Joint Platform of Doctors, West Bengal
