“My Daughter’s Name Was Jyoti Singh And I Am Not Ashamed To Name Her,” Says Nirbhaya’s Mother

On the third anniversary of Nirbhaya gang-rape case, Nirbhaya’s mother took her name in public. She also said that people who commit such heinous crimes should hang their heads in shame, and not the victims or their families.

On December 16, 3 years ago, the 23-year-old paramedical student was gang-raped and brutally assaulted, which led to her death 13 days later. This incident triggered a massive public outrage. A lot of people came out on the streets and protest marches & candle-lit rallies were witnessed accross the country. As a tribute, she was given the name ‘Nirbhaya’ or brave heart.

Yesterday, on the 3rd anniversary of the brutal Nirbhaya gangrape, her parents, in collaboration with women’s and citizens groups, marked the day as Nirbhaya Chetna Divas at Jantar Mantar.
“My daughter’s name was Jyoti Singh and I am not ashamed to name her. Those who commit heinous crimes like rape, their heads should hang in shame, not the victims or their families. You should take her name too,” said Asha Devi, Nirbhaya’s mother at the ‘Nirbhaya Chetna Diwas’.

Asha Devi and Badrinath Singh Pandey, the parents of the girl, also demanded that the juvenile convict, who is allegedly the ‘most brutal’ of the six offenders, should not be released.
Asha said, “On the third death anniversary of our death, we are seeing the release of the juvenile convict. Where is justice in that? I do not know whether he is 16 or 18. I only know that he has committed a brutal crime and there should be no age limit for punishment.”
She placed four demands on the public platform-
1. The five accused, including the juvenile convict, should be sentenced to death.
2. Speedy trial of the victims of sexual offences in the fasttrack courts.
3. Amendments in the Juveniles Justice Act should be passed.
4. Nirbhaya fund should be utilised for setting up the high quality forensic labs in all states.

The Jantar Mantar street had virtually turned into a public memorial for her after the incident. Candle light vigils, prayer meetings, and a series of other events marked three years of the heinous gangrape and death of the girl.