Bengali women to 'reclaim the night' after a doctor in Kolkata is raped and killed. What does that signify?

 Inspired by the "Reclaim the Night" campaign, West Bengal's protests are a potent reaction to the heartbreaking rape and killing of a doctor in Kolkata. Starting at 11:55 p.m. on Independence Day, which India celebrates at midnight, these demonstrations will represent the continuous struggle for women's independence and safety. The global campaign "Reclaim the Night" was started in the 1970s and supports women's freedom to stroll around at night without fear.

The events are intended to raise awareness of the pressing need for social attitudes about women to change and to demand more robust protections for them. Rallies, talks, and other forms of expression to honor the victim and demand justice and change will probably be a part of the demonstrations.

Wednesday, August 14, 2024, sees a nonviolent candlelight protest by the locals over the rape and killing of a medical trainee at Mumbai's R.G. Kar Hospital.

These protests draw attention to the ongoing problems with gender-based violence and the necessity of group efforts to guarantee a more secure and just society for all women.

College students, stay-at-home moms, office professionals, and people from all walks of life are planned to assemble on main streets in small towns and large cities, including Kolkata, as a result of the social media movement to reclaim the night.

To maintain the movement's nonpartisanship, the organizers have emphasized that no political party flags would be allowed during the demonstrations. Groups who advocate for underrepresented populations, such as the LGBTQ community, are permitted to attend with their flags, though.

"Women inside and outside of West Bengal are freeing themselves tonight. The movement's founder, Rimjhim Sinha, wrote on Facebook, "A new freedom struggle begins tonight."

By Wednesday evening, the events had spread from their initial three places in Kolkata—College Street, the Academy of Fine Arts, and the Jadavpur 8B Bus Stand—to encompass other parts of the city as well as towns like Siliguri in the north and Canning in the south.

Social media users are raving over a beautiful poster that depicts a crimson hand grasping a crescent moon against a night sky.

In what way does "Reclaim the Night" mean anything?

The demonstrations, which center on defending women's rights to safety and freedom in public areas, particularly at night, are closely linked to the "Reclaim the Night" campaign, which had its start in the 1970s. The movement is frequently associated with the inaugural "Reclaim the Night" march, which took place in 1977 in Leeds, England, and saw women demonstrate against sexual assault and the "blame the victim" mentality, which advocated for women to stay indoors at night to protect themselves from attacks. The march demanded safer streets and communities as an alternative to limitations on women. Events called "Reclaim the Night" are usually organized at night to highlight women's rights to move around freely and securely at any time of day and to demand an end to violence against them based on their gender.