Seven Years Since Nirbhaya Case, How India Has Been Fighting To Save Its Daughters

Women have an equal place in every society, but their fight to secure their rights has seen several ups and downs. As the nation remembered its braveheart Nirbhaya, a prayer meeting was held at her ancestral village, on Monday, to observe the day she was brutally gang-raped in 2012 in New Delhi.

The "pushpanjali" programme is held in the village every year on December 16, the day the 23-year-old physiotherapy intern was raped by six men. She had succumbed to injuries a fortnight later in a Singapore hospital.?

A number of villagers gathered for the programme on Monday and paid tributes to her.

But, while this day returns once every year to remind us of the gruesome and heinous crime that was committed against India’s daughter, a revolution of sorts emerged from the very incident and that has led to massive calls and demonstrations for women rights. These gatherings and protests have called for strict legislation and speedy trials of rape cases in the country.?

Here’s a look back at 26 pictures that have shaped the national discourse on crimes against women over the past seven years:

1. Citizens carried out a candlelight rally in support of Nirbhaya and demanded capital punishment for rapists.?

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2. Students paid condolences to the Delhi rape victim who died on 29, December, 2012.

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3. People from Bihar came out in large numbers to condole Nirbhaya's death.

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4. Students of Ahmedabad pay tribute to the 23-year-old gangrape victim from Delhi.

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5. Protestors from Ahmedabad burn an effigy of a rapist against the gangrape case at CG Road in Ahmedabad.

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6. Schoolchildren in Ahmedabad held placards in a quiet tribute to 23-year-old Nirbhaya on the eve of New Year in 2013, praying that such incidents do not happen again.?

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7. Artists perform during a play against rape as a protest for capital punishment against rapists in Delhi.?

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8. A freeze mob organised at Janpath to protest Nirbhaya gang rape in New Delhi.

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9. Protestors outside Saket court after the conviction of four accused in the Dec 16 bus gang-rape case, in New Delhi on 10 September, 2013

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10. Police personnel locked the gate of Juvenile court as media people wait for the judgment of the juvenile accused in the December 16 gang rape in New Delhi.

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11. An angry protestor showing slipper to defence lawyers against the slow process of sentencing at Saket court in Delhi.

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12. People protesting outside the Saket court as the judge pronounced death sentence for all four men convicted in the rape and murder of a student on a moving New Delhi bus.

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13. Protesters perform a street play during a protest to mark the first anniversary of Nirbhaya's gang rape.

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14. Candle Protest By JNU Students At Munirika Bus Stand In New Delhi On Monday, December 16, 2013

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15. Night Vigil At JNU Commemorating The 1st Anniversary Of The Bus Gang Rape In Delhi On December 16, 2013.?

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16. A Freeze Mob Was Organised By Education Tree At Connaught Place To Jantar Mantar To Mark Two Years Of The Nirbhayha Rape Case In Delhi

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17. Nirbhaya's parents with Shabana Azmi during a remembrance programme at Jantar Mantar, in Delhi on 16th December 2015

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18. A young girl protests against the release of one of Nirbhaya's rape accused at Jantar Mantar in Delhi on 16th December, 2015

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19. GuruKul arts school Lalbuag students are painting for the Nirbhaya rape case asking Govt to serve justice to victims of Rape cases.?

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20. Mother of Dec 16 gangrape victim, Asha Devi and students of ABVP being detained by police for protesting at India Gate in New Delhi on December 20, 2015.

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21. Students of the Mount Carmel College signing a petition as part of their campaign to protest the release of the juvenile convicted for raping Nirbhaya. The campaign was organised at the college campus in Bengaluru on? 21 December 2015

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22. Unite to end violence against women: Activists of 'Umarate Sau Crore' Coordination Samiti took out a candle march in Patna on Friday in honour of Nirbhaya.

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23. Women activists under the banner of Mahila Atyachar Virodhi Sangharsh Morcha supporting Nirbhaya case at Dak Banglow Road in Patna on 6 May 2017.

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24. Youth took out a candle march near Gandhi Maidan in Patna to mark Nirbhaya Day on 16 December 2017.

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25. Many citizens gathered in front of Town Hall to protest against Rape and also demand more security for Women. Actors Sruthi Hariran, Chethan, Social Activist Ruth Manorama and many others took part. The protest was held on 15th December 2019.

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26. People from various walks of life write their messages as they join hands to call for justice to victims of sexual assaults and violence.?

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