Acid attack survivors are not victims but fighters

A woman, A Partner, A mother, A Survivor, A fighter, A crusader

Laxmi is the face of the campaign “Stop Acid attacks” and also a TV host. And now she’s the director of Chhanv Foundation, a NGO dedicated to help the survivors of acid attacks in India. She has become face of acid attack survivors, speaking for their rights and transforming their life in the process.

She being an acid attack survivor, didn’t let the gruesome incident which had scarred her for life, ruin her mind. She has become a renowned personality, achieving the 2014 International Woman of Courage award, given to her by the US First Lady Michelle Obama. She has received the NDTV Woman of the Year award too.

At the age of 15 she was proposed by a 32-year-old man, following whose rejection she was attacked with acid while waiting at the bus stop. The man along with a mutual female friend had decided to leave a permanent scar on her face.

The road of recovery was full of physical as well as psychological challenges which included seven surgeries. The last surgery she underwent was extremely critical as the skin was taken off from her thighs and back which proved to be useful for her face in 2009.

Laxmi’s crusade against acid attacks began in 2006 along with Rupa, another acid attack survivor. She started it as a campaign with Stop acid attacks campaign.

Following her attack she found her soulmate in Alok Dixit who is a journalist turned social activist and they have recently announced being a 7 month old baby “Pihu’s” parents.

She has surely proven to be a crusader of the fight to stop acid attacks.

(Sanchita Garule is a MSc Environmental Science student from Fergusson college, Pune)

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