India will celebrate its 78th year of independence today, a monumental occasion marking our freedom from colonial rule. Yet, as we reflect on the state of our nation, the question arises: Are we truly independent if our women and girls continue to live in fear? The recent horrific case of a 41-year-old postgraduate doctor who was gang-raped in a seminar room in West Bengal brings this issue to the forefront once again.
This brutal incident echoes the infamous Nirbhaya case of 2012, which sparked nationwide outrage and led to significant legal reforms. Despite the collective anger and promises of change that followed, the fact that such heinous crimes continue to occur reveals a grim reality. In both cases, educated women, striving to contribute to society, were subjected to unimaginable violence. The Nirbhaya case, involving a young physiotherapy intern gang-raped on a Delhi bus, shook the nation to its core. Yet, over a decade later, the incident in West Bengal shows how little the scenario has changed.
Both cases highlight a deeper societal issue: the pervasive culture of patriarchy and the failure to ensure women’s safety. Laws have been strengthened, but their enforcement remains lax. The stigma and victim-blaming that survivors often face discourage many from seeking justice. Moreover, the normalization of such violence in society points to a deeper, more insidious problem—one that is not easily remedied by laws alone.
If independence means the right to live freely and without fear, then are our women truly independent? Can we claim to be a free nation when half of our population is vulnerable to such barbarity & cruelty? These questions challenge the very notion of freedom in modern India.
As we move forward, it is crucial to understand that true independence is not just about political sovereignty but it is about creating a society where every individual, regardless of gender, is free to live with dignity and security. Until we achieve that, our celebrations of independence will ring hollow. The need for systemic change—one that addresses the root causes of gender-based violence—has never been more urgent. Only then can we truly claim to be an independent nation.