When the protesting doctors saved a Police Woman
In the midst of junior doctors’ protests in Kolkata, a moment of humanity shines as doctors save the life of a policewoman suffering from an asthma attack. A powerful story that transcends the tension, reminding us of our shared compassion.
Some stories fill our hearts with joy, others leave us teary-eyed, while a few might make us furious. Over the past few days, I’ve been sharing reports on the junior doctors’ protests in Kolkata. Most were factual, straightforward accounts of what happened. But today, I want to share a story that stands apart—a story that needs to be told. It’s a tale not just of protest but of humanity, where the lines between opposing sides blurred for a brief moment.
It was around half-past midnight, and the protesting doctors were holding their ground, firmly standing by their demands outside Swasthya Bhavan. The air was thick with tension. Suddenly, the mood shifted. A female police officer, standing as part of the security detail to prevent the doctors from marching forward, was seen struggling for breath. The protesting doctors quickly realised she was having an asthma attack, and her condition was deteriorating fast. To make matters worse, she didn’t have her inhaler.
In the blink of an eye, the situation changed. Dr Bipresh Chakraborty, a resident in Gastroenterology from SSKM Hospital, sprang into action. Grabbing the microphone, he frantically called out to the crowd, asking if anyone had a LABA+Steroid combination inhaler. Time was running out, and the young doctor was on edge.
And then, as if by some miracle, a hand emerged from the crowd, holding the very inhaler he had asked for. Dr Chakraborty was in such a rush that he didn’t even catch a glimpse of the face behind the hand. He dashed towards the breathless policewoman and handed the inhaler to one of the junior doctors, who administered the much-needed dose.
Slowly but surely, her breathing became more stable, her face no longer as strained with panic. But the doctors weren’t finished yet. Realising the severity of her condition, they arranged for an ambulance, and two resident doctors accompanied her to a nearby hospital.
As the dust settled, a senior police officer approached Dr Chakraborty, firmly grasped his hand, and said with heartfelt gratitude, “Thank you. Had it not been for you, saving her would’ve been difficult. Thanks again.”
It’s moments like these that remind us of our shared humanity, that no matter how heated the confrontation, compassion and kindness will always find a way to rise above. In a protest that had been marked by tension and resistance, for just a fleeting moment, both sides came together not as protestors and police, but as human beings. Doctor Chakraborty says “Whatever we do, at the end of the day we are doctors only.”
This is a story that will remain etched in my heart, a tale of how, amidst the chaos, humanity still prevailed.
I would like to thank Mr. Nirmalya Dutta who shared this story with me.
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