Reclaiming the Night : Silent March at the OAT

On the eve of 78th Independence Day, members of the IIT Kanpur community  gathered at the Open Air Theatre (OAT) to participate in a silent candle march in response to the recent rape-murder incident at R.G. Kar Medical College, Kolkata. The march served as a collective call for justice and a demand for the protection and safety of women across India.

The event was organized by Ms. Ritama K., a Ph.D. student at IIT Kanpur, along with her friends, as a demonstration of grief and solidarity with the victim. The march took place on the night of August 14th, symbolizing “women reclaiming the night” as Independence Day approached.

Participants gathered at OAT and followed a route that included the Swimming Pool, Hall 2, Gate 3, Kargil Chowk, KV, and the Health Centre before returning to OAT. The march was well received as more than 1000 participants joined in. It was led by women and concluded with the national anthem back at the OAT.

The mail circulated to the campus community regarding call for protest read, “We march not only to seek justice for the heinous crime that took place in R.G. Kar Hospital, Kolkata, but to demand protection and safety for every woman in every workplace across India.”