RG Kar Hospital Tragedy: In a rare and deeply empathetic gesture, President Droupadi Murmu has written a personal letter to the grieving parents of the RG Kar Medical College victim, whose death in May 2024 following alleged negligence and subsequent mob vandalism shocked the state a’nd the nation. The President’s message comes as a reassurance that the fight for justice is being closely monitored at the highest levels of the country.
The letter, sent earlier this week, expresses solidarity with the family and acknowledges their unimaginable pain. It also underscores the importance of restoring trust in public institutions and ensuring that hospitals, especially state-run ones, remain safe spaces for treatment and not centres of trauma.
A Nation’s Tragedy That Still Hurts
The case dates back to May 2024, when a young patient at RG Kar Medical College & Hospital in north Kolkata died under controversial circumstances. Allegations of medical negligence led to public outrage, culminating in mob violence inside the emergency ward. The destruction caused not only extensive damage to property but also forced the ward to remain shut for months, severely impacting patients who relied on the facility.
For the victim’s parents, the loss has been irreparable. Speaking after receiving the President’s letter, they said that while words can never replace their child, the gesture has given them some strength to continue their legal and social battle. “For over a year, we have been moving from court to court, appeal to appeal, demanding accountability. The fact that the President of India has taken notice gives us hope that justice may not be denied forever,” the father said.
Political and Administrative Fallout
The RG Kar tragedy has become a political flashpoint in Bengal, with opposition parties accusing the ruling government of mishandling the situation and failing to provide timely justice. Questions have been raised over hospital safety, the accountability of doctors, and the lack of clear protocols during emergencies that spiral into mob attacks.
While the state government had promised an internal inquiry, families of victims and civil society groups continue to allege that the process has been slow and opaque. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had earlier issued notices to the state authorities, demanding reports on hospital safety and patient care.
The President’s letter, therefore, is not just an emotional support to the family but also a subtle reminder to the state machinery that the highest office of the Republic is watching developments closely.
A Broader Crisis in Public Healthcare
The RG Kar incident is not an isolated case. Over the past decade, multiple government hospitals across Kolkata and West Bengal have witnessed strikes, vandalism, and clashes between doctors and patients’ relatives. Doctors’ associations have repeatedly highlighted the need for better infrastructure, clear communication systems, and security within hospitals.
The vandalism at RG Kar in 2024 exposed the fragility of hospital management during crises. Even a year later, the emergency ward that was ransacked continues to lie in partial disuse, symbolising the system’s inability to heal its own wounds.
Public health experts argue that while Bengal has historically been a hub of medical excellence, political interference, underfunding, and overburdened facilities have eroded the trust of ordinary citizens. According to the National Health Profile 2024 (MoHFW Report), Bengal continues to struggle with doctor-patient ratios below the national average, long waiting times, and inadequate security measures.
Civil Society and Student Movements Step In
Student bodies, NGOs, and rights groups have stepped up in solidarity with the victim’s family. Vigils, peaceful marches, and poster campaigns around Kolkata have kept the issue alive in public discourse. Many student leaders from medical colleges across the state have demanded clear laws to ensure doctors’ safety, patients’ rights, and accountability in negligence cases.
The Save Public Healthcare Forum, a coalition of doctors and activists, has been organising public seminars on systemic reform. They argue that the RG Kar case must serve as a turning point, where grief can be transformed into policy reform.
President’s Intervention: A Symbol Beyond Politics
Presidential interventions of this kind are rare in India, usually reserved for cases where moral responsibility goes beyond politics. In her letter, President Murmu is believed to have emphasized that the family’s struggle reflects the struggle of countless others who lose faith in institutions when justice is delayed.
Political analysts note that this gesture may push both the central and state governments to act with greater urgency, not only in the RG Kar case but also in strengthening healthcare governance in general.
RG Kar Hospital Tragedy: What Lies Ahead
As the case continues in court, the family has vowed not to give up. Their lawyer has already petitioned for fast-tracking the proceedings and for a stronger investigation team. Meanwhile, Kolkata’s civil society has rallied behind them, organising Independence Day vigils this year in memory of the victim.
The President’s letter has provided the case with renewed national attention. Whether it will translate into tangible justice remains to be seen, but it has undeniably reignited public debate on medical accountability and hospital safety in India.
External References for Further Reading
- Ministry of Health and Family Welfare – National Health Profile 2024
- National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) Official Website
- Press Information Bureau – Statements from Rashtrapati Bhavan
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