'Pepper spray, army toolkit': Kolkata woman's Durga Puja shopping includes safety essentials

Women's safety is a key issue in India. (Representational)

After the brutal rape and murder of a 31-year-old post-graduate trainee doctor at RG Kar Medical College was brutally raped and murdered, the conversation around women’s safety has come to the forefront again with many questioning the effectiveness of current measures to protect women in both public and private spaces.

An Instagram influencer Shreyasi Biswas, shared a video urging women to prioritise their safety as the city prepares for the upcoming Durga Puja festivities. Her message, however, reflects a grim reality that many women in Kolkata and across the country face daily.

"Never thought I would ever have to make a video on women’s safety while living in Kolkata," Biswas lamented. "Our safety is so vulnerable and endangered in a system like this that women need to take care of their own. Be alert in your workplaces and always carry self-defense tools in your bag!"

Biswas's video, which has since gone viral, highlights a range of self-defense products that women can easily purchase online. Her recommendations include pepper spray, an emergency alarm keychain, and a mini knife—items she believes are essential for women to carry in today’s increasingly unsafe environment. "These products are easily available on Amazon. Just search for them, or I can send you the links via DM," she added.

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A post shared by SHREYASI BISWAS | KOLKATA (@thevoguishaffair)

While many have praised Biswas's proactive stance, her video has also sparked a heated discussion in the comments. "Still, you can't defend yourself if five men attack you... It's the psychology and mindset on which education should be provided to both genders!" one user commented, echoing a sentiment shared by many who believe that systemic change is needed to truly ensure women's safety.

Another commenter shared a personal experience, revealing the heightened sense of fear that now pervades daily life. "After the Kolkata incident, even a millisecond of eye contact with a stranger creates tension in my mind," they wrote.

Durga Puja festivities, an annual gala affair in Bengal, is in October this year.