Gendered Resistance in the Age of the Polarisation: A Case Study of Women’s Activism in the RG Kar and CAA Protests

This paper examines the role of women student activists in India, focusing on two significant protests: the RG Kar Medical College protests in Kolkata, triggered by a brutal rape case, and the nationwide protests against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA). These movements address issues of gender violence, authoritarianism, and the influence of far-right politics under the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). This research critically analyzes how women-led protests challenge not only gender violence but also the authoritarian tendencies of the far-right government, contributing to the discourse on democratic resilience in India. The RG Kar protests, initially centered on justice for a horrific rape case, expanded into a broader critique of the patriarchal and institutional structures that perpetuate violence against women. Women student activists at RG Kar led the charge, emphasizing the role of the state and societal structures in enabling violence against women while questioning the BJP-led government’s increasing control over civil liberties and freedoms (Sharma & Bhattacharyya, 2020). These protests were directly connected to the larger political context of India’s increasing authoritarianism, revealing the interconnection between gendered resistance and political dissent. Simultaneously, the anti-CAA protests, which erupted across India in 2019-2020, became a national flashpoint for resistance against discriminatory policies that marginalized Muslims and other minority groups. Women, particularly students, played a pivotal role in these protests, advocating for inclusive citizenship policies and opposing the far-right government’s tactics (Kumar, 2021). The CAA, which grants citizenship to non-Muslim refugees from neighboring countries, was widely criticized for undermining India’s secular constitution. In response, women-led protests in key locations such as Shaheen Bagh, Delhi, Aligarh, and Lucknow highlighted the significant role of young women in resisting state repression (Jha, 2020). Both the RG Kar and anti-CAA protests highlight how women student activists are redefining their roles within India’s democratic movements, particularly in the context of growing far-right influence. While the RG Kar protests focused on gender violence, they also acted as a critique of the BJP’s authoritarian policies, exposing the nexus between patriarchy and state repression. In the case of the CAA protests, women’s leadership became emblematic of a national movement challenging far-right ideologies. This study examines how these movements reflect broader patterns of resistance against the far-right, particularly in challenging both gender violence and authoritarian political environments. Using qualitative methodology, including interviews with activists and analysis of protest narratives and media portrayals, this research investigates how women in these movements have reshaped resistance in an increasingly polarized India. The findings suggest that women student activists are crucial in challenging gender violence and far-right authoritarianism, helping to foster democratic resilience by asserting inclusive democratic values in opposition to growing nationalist and authoritarian tendencies.