International Women’s Day Laxmi Agarwal acid attack survivors who had the last laugh

acid attack survivors

Every year India records 250 to 300 acid attacks every year despite stringent laws, which are, but just a scribble of words for some men, who can’t take no for an answer. To bring into focus this appalling on women and their survivor story, Deepika Padukone recently announced a biopic movie on the acid attack survivor, Laxmi titled as Chhapaak. While it is fortunate that the film industry is throwing light on these unsung heroes, thousand of these survivors remain shunned because of the ‘scar’ they were unwillingly given. Ahead of International Women’s Day, we look at some of these few acid attack survivors who had the last laugh on their attackers by resurrecting as heroes:

Laxmi Agarwal

Laxmi Agarwal: Attacked in 2005 at age 15, by a 32-year-old man Gudda and his alias Naeem Khan whose advances she had rejected, Laxmi is now an Indian campaigner with Stop Sale Acid and a TV host.

Lalita Ben Bansi

Lalita Ben Bansi: She was thrown acid by her own cousin in 2012 under a minor argument and was forced to undergo 17 surgeries to emerge the hero she is today.

Sonali

Sonali: Three men entered Sonali's house and threw acid on her face in 2003 permanently disfiguring her face but not her soul. After featuring in a crime programme, she was noticed by Chittaranjan Tiwari, who she will later marry.

Pramodini Roul

Pramodini Roul: She was also just 15 when a paramilitary soldier proposed her for marriage which turned him down resulting her face to be with acid. Today, she stands as a living example of an ‘undeterred’ survivor.