Suburb March 2019

had lost all will to live. But my family stood
like a rock and gave me the strength to
move on.”
Social Comrades
It was in 2014 in Mumbai when Reshma
met Ria Sharma, the founder of Make
Love Not Scars, an NGO that supports
acid attack victims by aiding them in their
medical treatments, gaining financial
independence and extending support in
their fight for justice. Reshma moved to
the NGO’s rehabilitation centre in Delhi
and is today the face of the NGO.
In 2017 Reshma walked the ramp at New
York Fashion Week for designer Archana
Kochar. “I couldn’t believe it that I was
walking the ramp of the International
Fashion Event and which made me
believe that beauty is beyond the
physical attributes, it’s more than a skin
appearance. This opportunity
empowered me greatly.’’
Giving Beauty Tips
Reshma has refined the definition of
beauty. “I have created a series of my
beauty vlogs on Youtube-‘Beauty Tips by
Reshma.’’ Each vlog ends with a plea to the
government to ban over-the-counter sale of
acid in India.
Reshma has an autobiography to her credit.
The book is co-authored by Tania Singh,
CEO of Make Love Not Scars (MLNS). “I
hope my story can pump some courage in
the minds and hearts of other acid attack
survivors.’’
Being Reshma: Authored by Reshma
Qureshi with Tania Singh On 19 May 2014,
as seventeen-year-old Reshma Qureshi left
home for the examination centre,
everything happened in a flash. The men
rushed towards her. Grabbed her. Tugged
at her hair. Poured acid on her face. Soon
she started to burn like a living corpse.
Soni Devi is another story of remarkable
bravery and resilience of a girl who is
determined to bounce back and not live life
as a recluse. She was tortured at the hands
of her dowry hungry husband and in-laws
who poured acid her face and upper body.
Having lived two years without her vision
post the attack, she has undergone 15
surgeries and is now working with the
MLNS team and helps with the NGO’s
operations.
“It was a very tough time for us as a
family,” says Soni. “My mother and sisters
SONI - THE SILENT
STRENGHT
did everything they could for me. My father
was shattered to see me in this condition
and eventually passed away in grief, stress
and the guilt of getting me married.
After the barbaric incident, Soni also did
not get immediate medical help. She was
admitted in the local dispensary and it was
again an ordeal before her real treatment
started. By that time the damage was done.
Social Support
What makes it even more difficult is the
lack of support from the society which
makes it tougher for the survivor to go
about her normal life. No matter how much
support you receive from home until
society doesn’t accept you and show love,
it becomes a struggle to step out with
confidence. Soni’s relatives and friends
have cut all connections with her. Sadly,
more so, the college she wanted to pursue
studies from denied her applications as her
face was a ‘problem’!
“Society is tough on us and we are looked
down upon. People either don’t want to
look at us or talk to us or some of them
cannot stop staring. Very recently Soni had
to miss her younger sister’s wedding. "My
mother and sister were very keen that I
attended the marriage but learning from
my past experience I decided not to go to
escape awkwardness and humiliation. My
Until the 2013 amendment
to Section 326 of the Indian
Penal Code (voluntarily
causing grievous hurt by
dangerous weapons or
means), there had been no
specific legislation to deal
with cases of acid attack
cases in the country. Since
the amendment, accused in
acid attacks can be
prosecuted under section
326A in case of grievous
injury and 326B in cases of
relatively lesser injuries to
victims. The minimum
punishment under 326A is
10 years, while the
maximum is life
imprisonment; under 326B,
the minimum punishment is
five years’ imprisonment,
which can extend up to
seven years.
going there would have been a cause of
embarrassment for my family. It was very
tough for us all emotionally,” she quietly
adds.
Reality Bites
In both these cases and like them many
more, their perpetrators are scot free.
Soni’s husband is out on bail despite being
given a seven-year term of imprisonment.
Loopholes in the law dealing with this
subject
Reshma and Soni are just the two of
hundreds of acid attack survivors who are
waiting for justice and fighting a long cold
battle all by themselves. Justice delayed is
justice denied!
The Acid Story in India
A cause both the girls feel strongly about is
the sale and over the counter availability of
acid in India.
Acid is inexpensive and readily available
making it an easy weapon for perpetrators
despite the Supreme Court has passed the
guidelines for the regulation of the sale of
acid but the problem is an implementation
of those guidelines.
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suburb life | March 2019