"She worked extremely hard to become a doctor. All she did was study, study, study.
"All our dreams have been shattered in one night. We sent her to work and the hospital gave us her body. It's all finished for us."
He told the Guardian by phone: "My daughter isn't coming back. I'm never going to hear her voice or laugh. All I can do now is concentrate on getting her justice."
The rape and murder of the doctor at RG Kar hospital in Kolkata on 9 August, and subsequent handling of the case by the authorities, has led to protests and strikes by doctors across India.
Her father, who cannot be named under an Indian law that protects the identity of the dead woman, said a career in medicine was all his only child had ever wanted. The 31-year-old had beaten the odds to qualify for one of about 107,000 places in India's medical colleges, which more than a million aspiring doctors compete for every year. She won a place at College of Medicine & JNM hospital in Kalyani in her home state of West Bengal.
Her parents financed her dream with the precarious income her father earned as a tailor.
This story is from the August 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the August 21, 2024 edition of The Guardian.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Tielemans leads Villa triumph at Young Boys in flying start
An hour before kick-off the few hundred Aston Villa supporters admiring the view from their seats cheered the first rendition of the Champions League anthem over the speakers and their mood was similarly jubilant after watching their team ruthlessly dispatch the Swiss champions on their first foreign assignment at this level for 41 years.
Konaté and Van Dijk head Liverpool home after early Milan scare
A stirring comeback against Milan: say what you like about Arne Slot, but at least he knows his history.
Seventh heaven for United as Rashford tucks in for duck-shoot
Antony's penalty in this evisceration means the maligned wide man needs only two more goals to equal the three last season for Manchester United.
No magic bullet Why a British-Irish league is not the answer to rugby's financial problems
In a perfect world the countdown to a new season would be all about the rugby.
Biometric EU border checks expected to be delayed again
The full implementation of an EU entry-exit system introducing fingerprinting and facial recognition checks at ports and airports is expected to be delayed again amid fears over congestion and long queues.
Combs faces charges of sex trafficking and racketeering after arrest
Sean \"Diddy\" Combs is facing charges of sex trafficking and racketeering, according to a federal indictment unsealed yesterday that alleged he also engaged in kidnapping, forced labour, bribery and other crimes.
Pressure on Secret Service after Trump 'assassination attempt'
The Secret Service did not search the perimeter of the golf course where a suspect lurked for nearly 12 hours in the hope of killing Donald Trump, the agency has admitted.
'Hell on Earth' Children starve as civil war grinds on
In the small town of Tawila, in Sudan's North Darfur state, at least 10 children are dying of hunger every day.
First image of doomed Titan after implosion
The first picture of the Titan submersible following its deadly June 2023 implosion was revealed on Monday by the US Coast Guard as authorities opened a public hearing into the deaths of five people onboard.
Spain's green Socialist gets top European Commission role as leader sets out plans
Spain's outspoken Socialist deputy prime minister will take charge of Europe's \"clean transition\", it emerged yesterday, as Ursula von der Leyen outlined the choices for her team of 26 top officials.