A for Acid Attacks

Posted on by Parul Thakur

If you thought Acid Attacks are only India’s shame, no they are not. Violent acid attacks are a shame world wide and that’s true.

Pic Credits : The Hindu
Pic Credits : The Hindu : A way of protecting self

Sonali Mukherjee is a known name in India. Yet, Sonali Mukherjee is the only name most people know in India. While the perpetrators were granted bail ten years ago when they committed the crime, Sonali has since then undergone 25 surgeries in the last decade to look normal like people around her.

Sonali is not the only name – there are many women whose names we do not know not just in India but in other countries like Australia, South America, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Cambodia, United Kingdom, China, Vietnam, Thailand, United States to name a few. An Acid Attack is one of the most violent kind of crime and comparing it with Honor Killing, I can’t even decide who gets to grab the top spot. These attacks on women are sometimes personal revenge, gang violence, or sometimes just about turning down of marriage proposals or sexual advances. Such an attack not only scars the individual physically but also psychologically. The pain, the procedures, the lost confidence and the post trauma challenges are so hard to handle that none of us can even imagine or understand.

Other than a change in the mindset of people who commit the crime, legislative reforms are a way to help reduce the rate at which this crime has picked up. Over the last years, Bangladesh took a lead in reforms and presently the rate there is decreasing. In India on the other hand, there has been an increase in the rate of reported cases and one biggest challenge that the authorities are facing is over the counter sale of acids. I agree that easier availability is not an excuse but if there was a way to curb sales, we could protect many Indian women who get attacked in this manner.

Most of the times, survivors spearhead NGOs to help rehabilitate victims and with the financial aid from citizens, small-scale industries are set up to make women self-sufficient and  help them be financially independent. One such initiative that caught my attention was one by Mussarat Misbah in Pakistan. She has helped over 600 women, is an entrepreneur and owns beauty salons where acid attack survivors get trained as beauticians. It’s a way to help these women gain some strength and feel secure in an all women space. Kaun Banega Crorepati (Who wants to be a Millionaire) was one show that helped Sonali gather funds for her treatment and that was another possible way to extend our support. It is not just about supporting financially but also about being compassionate towards the survivors. This Women’s Day a calendar was also launched where Acid Attack survivors posed as models. Many other faces came to light and the proceeds from the sales will go to help the survivors. Such initiatives are thoughtful and depict a positive change.

As a woman and someone who understands the pain of disfigurement to a little extent, I can think of things like reporting each case, helping survivors through NGOs, staying alert and protecting ourselves from vultures in the society (across the world). I understand it is easier said than done but we should try. The change in legislation is not in my hands but spreading awareness and calling out for attention through writing is.

I am blogging from A to Z during April (#480 on the list) and the theme I have chosen is set on women. Some of the posts will be here for you to know and some will be to reflect and accept . Share your thoughts and let me know how things are going. There is always a room for improvement. 

 

92 thoughts on “A for Acid Attacks”

  3. Spreqding awareness is the only thing we can do right now, and sincerely hope, that in the times to come, things change for the better! Though, the heart wants to return the favour, but then, that restraint separates humans from animals i feel!

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  5. Acid attack is such a terrible and a gruesome crime.It changes the world of the victim forever! I have read about the initiative in Pakistan for acid attack victims. Truly a remarkable and noble thing to do. This is a subject that needs more awareness and love the way you are doing your bit, Parul!

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  8. Its one of the easiest crimes to do and get away with it. Laws should be able to deter the perpetrator.
    Good one Parul.. Awareness is the first step.

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  12. That was a good topic chosen for the challenge, Parul. It will not only create awareness of the plight of the victims , but also the work that is being done for their help and support. I liked reading about the example from Pakistan where the victims are being given training and jobs in the beauty industry. I too wish that the laws in our country are made stricter in order to bring down the crime rate.
    Best wishes for the challenge!

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  13. I would like to congratulate you for picking such a worthy theme – topics related to women. It is heartening to know about the initiative in Pakistan. I am looking forward to your post tomorrow to get immersed in the depth of your writing.

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  15. it’s heartbreaking when I read the stories of acid attack victims, when the perperators are sometimes family… we need better laws, and better human beings.

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    1. Thank you so much Ma’am..Your words mean a lot to me – there are 25 posts to go and it is getting harder to write all cos of I am at a loss of words for what women go through in India and around the world.

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  21. This is the first A-Z I visit this year and it certainly leaves one thinking and has a strong impact . The horror! I am originally from Mexico where I always felt women deserved more rights (I left quite young) but when I read things like Acid Attacks I feel quite the opposite. Bravo to you for the courage to bring awareness to such an important issue.
    I went with short and more superficial posts this year, so it is nice to visit something so thought provoking.
    #Blogging from A-Z swinging by to meet and greet. I am 471 and 472 in the long list, with MOVIES and What’s in a NAME Hope you swing by to 4covert2overt and Defining Ways. Hope to meet up everywhere @M_C_V_Egan
    .⋱ ⋮ ⋰.,;***;,.⋱ ⋮ ⋰
    ⋯¤♥¤⋯.(^_^)⋯¤♥¤⋯
    ⋰ ⋮ ⋱…_/l\_…⋰ ⋮ ⋱
    ♫ ƤҼƌҪҼ ƌƝƊ ĻƠṼҼ ॐ βԼƐֆֆїɳɠֆ ƌƝƊ βԼїֆֆ ♫…

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    1. Thank you so much Maria and I appreciate that my post for your first visit. Women deserve a lot more rights around the world and that fact hurts me. We are so far away from equality. Great you shared your blogs. I am going to check them out! 🙂 Happy A to Z and see you around!!

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  22. Educating people is the only way out of this. But again, will educated people not do this? That is another question altogether! Kudos to the people who come forward to support the victims and help them lead a normal life. Great post Parul 🙂

    A Stranger In The Mirror

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    1. You are right! Even educated people do such things..fixing things is a matter or mindset, education and respect for women. Yes, some people take it up as theirs and help so many others. Kudos to them. Thank you Swathi. Appreciate you stopping by.

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  23. very relevant topic Parul, I remember seeing that episode of Sathyameva jayathe where a girl named Laxmi talked about her ordeal. She was attacked with acid when she was 15 because she refused to marry some guy, it horrific to even imagine the mindset of these attacker who decides to destroy someone’s life just because they can’t handle rejection

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  24. I had the pleasure of meeting Laxmi – also acid victim in 2013. Made a huge impression. Thank you for raising awareness on this issue. Greatly written, sad yet inspirational. Way to go!

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    1. I always believed that this is a crime very specific to India until I read about it and the stats shocked me. This happens over the world but the rate is more in Asian countries.When I was growing up, this used to be bought to clean the toilets so imagine how easy it was to get a bottle of acid. Now, people who commit the crime just buy it and get away with the crime, It’s a shame!

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  28. Really enjoyed your post on such an important topic. The fact that women in your part of the world are pushing back against these actions is extremely encouraging, but I feel that the only thing that will truly make a difference is when men examine their actions as a gender and begin to push for change amongst themselves. If male behavior continues behind the scenes to encourage such vengeful attacks, significant change will be hard to put into place. Happy A to Z-ing!

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  29. Whatever I thought of complaining about is completely gone and will be for some time. Thank you so much for writing about this horrific crime. We must know it exists if we want to stop it from happening.

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  30. I loved the theme to the challenge and its a superb start an eye opener and i so agree of legislative changes to be enforced strongly to change this 🙂

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  31. Women have come a long way in history. Still there are many roadblocks.

    In the United States and Canada, there are strong laws that address the issue as an assault. In addition, someone assaulted would be able to collect financial damages in a civil case that would follow a criminal case against the perpetrator. However criminal actions of an aggressor over a weaker individual is a world wide problem.

    However, women do deal with “glass ceilings” which limit their promotions within corporations. We have had only one woman who was a serious contender for President. Workplaces do not support childbearing women. Women often drop out of the workforce when they have children and this limits their career in itself.

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    1. Your thoughts are very valid and I will try to bring these up in this challenge. I agree that in US and Canada, the laws are much stringent and the offender can’t get away so easily. India lags behind and that saddens me 😦

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  38. Did I tell you how much I love your theme for the challenge ? If not, I am in awe currently about your theme and your first post. 🙂 Firstly, it completed my misconception that acid attacks happen majorly in India. And secondly, it inspired me so much to know how the victims and several others help in this cause. Kudos to a great start and cannot want to not read your future posts. 🙂

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  39. It is a shame that such attacks are on a rise in this world. Let’s hope that awareness will bring a change in the situation. Well written, Parul. Your theme is simply awesome. If I couldn’t come back here everyday that’s only because of lack of internet connection. I will definitely spend time to catch up with all the letters and what you have to say on each of them for sure. Keep up the good work, Parul. 🙂

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  41. wow. This is very deep content. I appreciate your posts very much. At first I was speechless. I was amazed at my ignorance…I had not idea that these things are happening. And then I was even more saddened by the fact that they are real events. My heart goes out to all these woman. We have all come a long way yet there seems like such a long way still to go.

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  43. That’s a well thought out post on such a sensitive issue which needs to be talked about as much as possible. Along with helping such women gain strength, motivation and the will to live on, the fact is that men who do such heinous acts need to change.

    Truly feel that individuals who do such things are not humans but animals who can do anything in the name of revenge.

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  44. sorry for late reading and replying . very burning issue . It really gives a thought to women to take a lead against such a gruesome crime . great article !!

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  45. The theme you’ve chosen for A-to-Z Challenge ’15 is really great!
    Acid attacks should never have a place in a civilised society 😦 So gruesome and painful they are! And happy to know about Musarat Misbah 🙂

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  47. Thanks so much for bringing to light this horrifying issue that women are facing on a global scale as well as much to my shame in Pakistan, each year the cases are growing more in number.

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