On 22 August 2024, Ms Madhavi Divan, distinguished lawyer, former Additional Solicitor General of India and member of our School Managing Committee, addressed the students of classes XI and XII. Ms Divan's address to the students was a compelling and insightful discourse on the pervasive issue of gender-based violence in India, sparked by the tragic incident at R G Kar Medical College in Kolkata. With her extensive background in constitutional law and human rights, Ms Divan skilfully wove together the harrowing details of the recent crime with broader historical and legal context, providing the students with a deepened understanding of the issues at hand.
She began by recounting the horrific assault on a female doctor, using this recent event as a lens through which to examine the broader societal and legal implications of sexual violence. By referencing landmark cases such as the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and the case of Aruna Ramchandra Shanbaug, Ms Divan illustrated the grim reality that sexual assault is fundamentally about power and control rather than sexual desire. These cases served to underscore how societal norms often punish women for asserting their autonomy, with a particular focus on the role of the "male ego" in perpetuating this violence—a point bolstered by data from a prominent NGO.
Ms Divan highlighted the regressive societal attitudes that often follow such incidents, where families may restrict their daughters' freedom in an attempt to protect them, inadvertently reinforcing the very inequalities that the women's movement seeks to eradicate. She also touched on the challenges that women face in balancing career and family life, drawing from her personal experiences in the legal profession. Her anecdote from the Republic India Women’s Summit poignantly illustrated the irony of discussing women’s issues in a space dominated by women, underscoring the necessity for broader societal involvement.
In concluding her address, Ms Madhavi Divan called for a holistic approach to combat gender-based violence, emphasising the need for educational initiatives that challenge entrenched gender norms. She advocated for a shift in social conditioning, one that involves parents, teachers, and institutions in promoting self-reflection and proactive interventions. In response to her call to action, school counsellors have initiated workshops aimed at encouraging students to confront and dismantle gender-based violence by addressing gender-specific slurs and behaviours.
Ms Divan’s talk was a powerful and urgent appeal to the students, urging them to recognise the deep-rooted power dynamics that fuel gender-based violence and to actively participate in societal change through awareness and intervention.
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