Women want change, women want action: Siraj
It was Kolkata’s birthday that day. 24-08-24. Close to 100 people came together on this day at the Speakers’ Corner in Singapore–not to celebrate the occasion, but to express solidary with the millions protesting all over the world against the brutal rape and murder of the young doctor in Kolkata. Many among those present there had grown up, worked, lived in the city. Today they call Singapore home, but their ties with the city remain strong. Their families, friends, school and college buddies, ex-colleagues are still there; that’s why when an act so violent, so barbaric takes place, it feels personal. It shakes one and all to the core, urging them to say something, to take some action.
Eminent speaker, author and co-founder of AWARE Singapore, Zaibun Siraj set the tone for the afternoon with a speech where she briefly recounted the horrors of that night at R G Kar Medical College and delved into the psyche of human beings who commit such heinous crimes. “We must change this, we must educate men to respect women,” Ms Siraj stressed. “Women want change, women want action,” she said as she ended her short but rousing speech.
Other men and women who had gathered there took turns to share their anger, anguish, helplessness. There was one common thread running through all the emotional and spontaneous speeches– that enough is enough, that a change must be brought, and it must happen now. The vigil ended with observance of a one-minute silence in memory of the young promising life that was ruthless cut short, and all such atrocities that happen in India and elsewhere.
It was a balmy afternoon, the mood was somber and a silent pledge was taken by all.
