Anti-rape crusader in a biopic this August

A biopic is made on the man who was killed for his voice against the silent victims from the rape village. The movie chronicles the life of Barun Biswas- the slain anti-rape crusader from West Bengal. The film is directed by Bengali filmmaker Raj Chakraborty called Proloy starring Parambrata Chatterjee, will showcase Barun's crusade against attacks on women.

Sutia is a village in West Bengal that was in dark in 2000-2002, it was often called the rape village. Gangs of men used to rape the girls in front of their families. There was no one to raise a voice until Barun Biswas, a school teacher who could not stand this crime any longer. He kept fighting to get justice for these victims. Gradually, it became a movement called Protibadi Mancha but the man was silenced forever last year and killed by a group of people.

Barun Biswas who was called Mastermoshai by the people gave courage to people to voice out. "There should be and will be more Barun Biswas. Now more than ever we need more individuals like Barun. What has been happening in areas like Kamduni has made society realise that there is a need to protest. The fight for women's safety will not stop," said Asit Kumar Biswas, Barun's brother.

Family members of the late school teacher believe that the society needs more such individuals to intervene, especially in the light of the Kamduni gang rape. A second-year college student was abducted, raped and killed by a group of young men on June 7, while she was returning home after appearing for an examination in Kamduni village. Eight people have been arrested for the crime.

On July 5, 2012, the 39-year-old Barun was shot and murdered allegedly by the criminals he protested against, at a railway station in Gobardanga block, in the state's North 24-Parganas district. During the course of his campaign, Barun had received many death threats. Undeterred, he carried on the crusade till his last days.

"Proloy is based on Barun Biswas's struggle against the system. Though there are elements of fiction in the script, my message through the film is that we should not stop protesting," Chakraborty said while visiting Barun's family during the poster release of the movie.

"We will continue his fight. I hope the film inspires more youngsters to stand up and raise their voice for the honour of women," said Asit Kumar. Barun was posthumously accorded the Mind of Steel Award under the Godfrey Phillips Bravery Awards banner March 2013. The film is set to release in August this year.

IANS