Navya Naveli Nanda reacts to Kolkata rape-murder case, calls for accountability and safer spaces for women

Navya Naveli Nanda, granddaughter of Amitabh Bachchan, recently expressed her voice over recent rape and murder that took place in Kolkata. She demanded societal and systemic changes immediately so that the country can be made safer for women.

Speaking to India Today, Navya spoke on this ongoing issue regarding violence against women and spotlighted the need for collective accountability with systematic changes.

When the brutal rape and murder of a trainee doctor was found in Kolkata on August 9, the entire nation felt shocked. As outrage gathers momentum, it fuels demands for stricter law enforcement and safety measures for women at public places. The individual was picked up within 48 hours, but this case has relaunched critical discussions on the state of security enjoyed by women in India.

"The problem is not in incidents but shared responsibility," said Navya. She said the workplace and public arena are being made safer for women; the focus should also be to make homes and communities safe for women. Her remarks pointed to an even larger issue-that while there are frequent demands for stricter protocols, it is equally essential that society owns up and puts these measures into practice.

In demanding change, Navya felt that the women do deserve more protections and that change cannot occur systematically without an all-out effort on the part of all segments of society. Even though the case in Kolkata is horrifically tragic, it reflects an even bigger problem: unchecked violence against women needs both immediate and sustained action to avoid further tragedies.