Acid attack is one of the most torturing ways that anyone can use for revenge for refusal. Acid attack is most reported in India, and despite strict laws by Indian law total of 176 cases are reported in the country in 2021 and most of the victims are women. There are various acids that are used but nitric acid and sulphuric acid are common ones. Hydrochloric acid is used for causing less damage. Survivors mostly define it as a burning sensation. The long-term consequences of this violent assault are blindness, as well as eye burns, with severe permanent scars on the face and whole body. Moreover, victims have to under many social, psychological, and economic difficulties.

HE CHANGED MY FACE, NOT MY HEART
HE THREW ACID ON MY FACE BUT NOT ON MY DREAM.
- by LAKSHMI AGARWAL, an acid attack survivor.

The acid attack came to the notice of the people of the country through the case of Laxmi Agarwal, she was 15 years of age when she had gone through this attack and this made people notice this as this case splashed on the news channels and bravery of the girl. Moreover, people got to know about this when the movie ‘CHHAPAAK’ was realized in 2020 and created awareness about acid attacks, how it feels and through what all a survivor has to go to lead a normal life, and what all differences just a few drops of acid can bring in someone’s life, via the story of Malti.

REASONS OF ACID ATTACKS:

The reasons for acid attacks that are majorly highlighted are:

• Revenge for refusal of sexual advantages,
• Revenge for the refusal of marriage,
• Revenge for refusal of dowry,

and so on….

These are some of the evident reasons reported to date for the acid attacks happening. It is usually an expression of control over a woman’s body which leaves a woman to suffer for life.

THE UNSUNG HEROES AND THEIR STORIES:

Here is a list of a few acid attack survivors who proved to be the real heroes in their stories.

• LAXMI AGARWAL - Lakshmi faced this hilarious incident at the age of 15, which shook her life from its roots. When a man who proposed to her for marriage threw acid on her after she rejected his proposal. He threw acid directly on his face. She went through multiple surgeries. Now she is a campaigner for the rights of acid attack survivors and runs the Laxmi Foundation.
• ANMOL RODRIGUEZ - She was a two-month-old infant when her father threw a can of acid on her and her mother. Her mother died on the spot but the baby girl miraculously survived. Her early childhood was spent in and out of operation theatres and she was shifted to an orphanage after that. Till her college days, she suffered due to her physical appearance. She resolved, to not let her appearance be her hindrance, now she is a model and has helped many acid attack survivors.
• PRAGYA SINGH - In 2006, 23 years old Pragya Singh was traveling from Varanasi her hometown to Delhi to pursue a career in apparel management, after twelve days of her marriage. When she was in deep sleep the man whose marriage proposal she has turned down before threw acid on her. This incident took away sight of her one eye and she has to undergo fifteen surgeries. Seven years later with the help of her husband and friends, she opened ATIJEEVAN FOUNDATION, an NGO to help acid attack victims to arrange free surgeries and treatment.

To help these beautiful ladies to rebuild their lives, esteem, dignity, and identity SHEROS’ HANGOUT CAFÉ IN NOIDA STADIUM in Delhi was opened in 2014 by Alok Dixit. It is run by acid attack survivors and the café has expanded it to its second location which is LUCKNOW.

A big salute to all these HEROES who so bravely came out of this heart draining life experience. In the end a dedication of few self-composed lines to these beautiful and strong ladies.

उसे देखो वह कितनी सुंदर है,
वाह! कितनी प्यारी लड़की है।
थी वो सुदंर, थी वो प्यारी, थी वो हिम्मतवाली
उसके लिए यह जहान मानो जन्नत था,
इस दुनिया से सुदर उसके लिए और कुछ न था।
जीती थी वो इस दुनिया को पूरे जज़्बातों से,
पाना चाहती थी अपना हर सपना पूरे अरमानों से|
पर वो क्या है ना लोगों से तुम्हारी खुशी देखी नहीं जाती!
किसी न किसी की नज़र ज़रूर लग जाती है!
बन गई वो किसी की जुनून का शिकार,
किसी के जुनून ने कर दी उसकी सारी खुशिया बेकार |
बस उसी जुनून की चंद छीटों ने छीन ली,
उसकी सारी खुशी, सारी हंसी, सारी खूबसूरती, सारी हिम्मत या...
कहो तो सारी जिंदगी |
टूट गई वो, बिखर गई वो, जिंदगी से रूठ गई वो।
लेकिन बस कुछ वक्त के लिए! हिम्मतवाली थी वो,
फिर उठ खड़ी हुई वो इस बेरहम जहान से लड़ने को।
लेकिन इस बार इस बार....
पहले से सुदर, पहले से प्यारी, पहले से हिम्मतवाली |
यह दुनिया अभी भी सुदंर थी उसकी आंखो के लिए,
क्यूंकि वह अभी भी थी एक फरिश्ता कुछ इंसानों के लिए।
उसने खो दिया अपना चेहरा, पर पहचान ना खोई थी,
तोड़ा उसका हौसला बहुतों ने, पर उसने अपनी हिम्मत ना खोई।
दुनिया भूल गई थी उसे प्यारा कहना, पर वो दुनिया को प्यारा कहना ना भूल पाई।
आज बन गई है वो मिसाल कई जिंदगियों की!
हम जो भूल जाते हैं जिन छोटी-छोटी चीज़ों में,
वो तो जी गई आधी खोई जिंदगी भी।

A TRIBUTE TO ALL THE ACID ATTACK SURVIVORS.

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