WOMEN'S SAFETY: HALF-CENTURY OF SHATTERED PROMISES

On a chilling November night in 1973, the corridors of Mumbai's King Edward Memorial Hospital bore witness to a tragedy that would haunt the nation's conscience for decades to come.

- DR. SUPREET GILL

Aruna Shanbaug, a vibrant young nurse dedicated to her calling, descended into the hospital's basement, unaware that her life was about to be irrevocably altered. In the shadows lurked Sohanlal Bhartha, a ward boy whose soul had been consumed by a twisted desire. As Aruna prepared for her next shift, Bhartha struck with a savagery that defied human comprehension. Fearing recognition, Bhartha strangled her with a dog chain, resulting in severe oxygen deprivation to her brain and leaving her in a vegetative state. The attack also damaged her brain stem, condemning her to a bedridden existence for the remainder of her life.

While Bhartha walked free after a mere seven years (which was reduced to six), Aruna remained shackled to her hospital bed, dependent on the compassion of her colleagues who became her family. For 42 agonizing years, Aruna lay trapped in the prison of her own body, her once-bright eyes now vacant, her skilful hands rendered useless. Each spoonful of mashed food, each gentle turn to prevent bedsores, was a testament to their unwavering devotion and a stark reminder of the injustice that had befallen her. In 2011, the Supreme Court recognized passive euthanasia in the Aruna Shanbaug case, permitting the withdrawal of life-sustaining treatment for patients unable to make informed decisions.

Fast forward 50 years to August 9, 2024. A young doctor, exhausted and sleep-deprived after a gruelling 36-hour shift at Kolkata's R G Kar Medical College and Hospital, sought a moment's respite in a seminar room. This postgraduate trainee, dedicated to healing others, could not have foreseen the horror that awaited her. The subsequent post-mortem report would churn even the strongest stomachs, revealing the brutal nature of the attack. The tragedy ignited a nationwide doctors' strike, as medical professionals united in solidarity with their fallen colleague.