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It’s a Saturday afternoon and the sun is as bright as a firefly. Amidst the slight breeze that slithers past those sitting in Sheroes Hangout, there is a gentle voice that says, “Sir Dhoop Bahut tez hai Chhanv mein aa jaiyye.” I look up to find an acid attack survivor at the cafe as I wait for a book inauguration ceremony to kickstart.
Disfigured to no repair and the burn marks on the face hard to miss, perhaps this woman is speaking from experience of having faced the trauma of extreme torture, many of whom are now proud mothers. The common thread that binds them being a relation that they never wanted to get into and hence the counter attack using acid.
Many of these acid attack victims are either seen serving the people, busy cooking meals or taking orders at Sheroes from people who are here to have a good time. Despite the oddities and the inherent pain, the bright smile is hard to miss. But try talking to them about a life that they never wanted and the deep rooted pain is understandable.
Anshu Rajput, is confident. She talks with a sense of authority and has the audacity of hope that someday she will be able to sing her redemption song. Ask her about a 55 year old who bruised her soul and face badly, you get a painful tale.
Anshu, who has been working for Sheroes Hangout for 3 years now says, “In 2014 I was attacked by a 55 year old neighbour who had been stalking me from the time I was in class 10. It was only when I was stopped on the road and asked to get into a relation when I opened up about my plight to my parents. Following this violence ensued and there was action by the police who warned the culprit of dire consequences.”
She goes on to say, “Lady luck was not on my side, I was attacked by my stalker while asleep. With my face disfigured and one eye damaged, I was left in the lurch until after seven months partial vision returned. I saw a relative holding a teacup in front of me one fine morning which gave me new hope.”
The society in Anshu’s case was rather unjust. In her own account she says, “ Society reacted badly. They shunned me. People said children get afraid there needs to be a boycott of such people in society. I started my journey under the umbrella of the Chhanv foundation by joining Sheroes Agra and then shifting base to Lucknow. After I revealed my face in public in 2015, I have not looked back. I have never had to cover up my face. Getting back confidence I finally revealed my disfigured face to the world and I have not covered it ever since.
Sheroes started a humble journey from Agra. It always focussed on rehabilitation and bringing to mainstream acid attack survivors.
Situated at Gomti Nagar in Lucknow inaugurated and given a further push by ex CM Akhilesh Yadav it has often given the poet, the reader, the singer, the performer and acid attack survivors space to live and thrive. Even works and achievements of survivors are displayed.
While the 2013 PIL on acid sales has somewhat improved awareness and curbed things a little more than before, there is unanimity among survivors that there are miles to go.
Anshu and others say that, acid and its dangers will not end until society changes its mentality. It is the very thought of an acid attack that needs to be killed she adds. Another survivor Kavita, is quick to add, “Awareness levels on acid sales have increased but a lot more needs to be done.”
For some though acid attack survivors are not alien, they are sufferers who went through trauma for no fault of their own. Many of the survivors who work at Sheroes say that Society, Chaanv foundation and Lakshmi, herself an acid attack victim have stood by them like a rock. While they believe that society makes or breaks us, they acknowledge times are changing.
By definition, acid is a corrosive chemical whose illegal and criminal use has increased manifolds over the last several years. Most acid attack cases are that of spurned lovers/ one sided affairs/ family members which has not only scarred their faces and bodies but also destroyed their confidence.
The cafe walls are dotted with photographs of acid attack survivors and even the exterior is full of graffiti on acid attacks. The cafe houses several other attractions including a feminism library, a handicraft and art exhibition centre.
It was back in 2013 that the founders of Sheroes Hangout realized that acid attack ‘victims’ were shown the least concern be it in jobs, education or even by the government, police and courts. This was when the Stop Acid Attacks campaign was turned into a registered organization.
In a country where we talk about equality of sexes, Reshma’s story is a sad by product of the inherent craving for a male child in India. Reshma has five children. When she could not bear a male child as per the wish of her inlaws, the sad thing was that her so called family poured acid on her private parts. Though life is certainly a tad bit better, her words ring in my ears – Ek Baar Jo Darr Baith gaya use hata paana mushkil hai.
She has lost her family and has been forced to fend for herself. Living in a rented house she now wants to live on her own terms with a house of her own.
Attacked in 2013 she was finally supported by anti acid attacks campaigner Lakshmi. Sheroes gave her new hope with a sense of identity. Inspired by acid attack survivors like Pramodini and Lakshmi she has fought back.
Her advice to others – Speak up and fight back like a brave person.
She says, “ My near and dear ones have always been telling me that venture out with caution.”
Much like the victims at Sheroes, even Kavita was approached by one who wanted to get into a relation. When she resisted, because she was already getting married she was attacked with acid. But as lady luck would have it her marriage went through and this was a tight slap on her attacker.
In Kavita’s case she says, “She did not get the required family support. The family wanted her to keep quiet. They wanted the honour of the family not be at stake.”
Working like a tightly knit force with other acid attack survivors has given many of these acid attack survivors the iron will to carve a niche for themselves and secure their future. Living openly Kavita and many others of her ilk want their own house and a government job.
At Sheroes, the idea transcends the set parameters of beauty and importance of appearance which are more often than not the talking point.
Surprisingly Uttar Pradesh still ranks the highest when it comes to acid attacks.
While acid attack victims are given special treatment and surgeries in King George’s Medical College in collaboration with the foundation, a majority of acid attack victims across India have either not been given their promised compensation or haven’t even been offered anything. Government relief for many here still is a far – fetched dream. Even the Indian judiciary has failed miserably to punish a majority of the culprits in acid attack crimes.
Sheroes, located in Lucknow’s Gomti Nagar, is a step in the right direction by UP MahilaKalyan Nigam, with NGO Chhanv Foundation, to rehabilitate acid attack survivors.
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