Me-Thanks to inflation, twenty bucks can no longer buy you anything.

Friend-It’s enough to shatter dreams.

Me -Eh?

Friend-In India, you can easily procure a bottle of concentrated acid with it.

Me-So?

Friend- Haven’t you heard of acid attacks? A way patriarchy confines women to a life of discrimination and marginalization. Spurned lovers and surprisingly even fathers and strangers have gruesomely targeted everyone they felt was too big for their boots. From the just-in-her-teens-lass to a woman on the threshold of menopause, no one’s been spared the torture.

Acid Attacks aren’t a big deal in India. Talking of anything less than rapes or murders is like making a mountain of a molehill. We are such a large populace that we don’t respect our human resources. An attempt to destroy what most women consider their biggest asset is mercilessness and malice of the highest order.

The reasons for this crime are plenty.

The-reason-of-all- seasons: Mein MARD hoon! Roughly translates to Patriarchy. Men feel they own women and they are superior. Disfiguring faces often equals to destroying identities. This trivial way of settling scores is seen by the brutal perpetrators as a means to restore their own honour and pride. Shamed by these assaults woman shall now be confined to a veil or even better within the four walls of the house. Bravo! What an idea! Screwed up concepts of LOVE – It’s difficult to take no as an answer. Ek ladki ki naa mein bhi haan chipa hota hai (Even when a woman says NO she actually means a YES!)

This is where our neighbours score over us. Dr. Mohammad Jawad of Pakistan performs reconstructive surgeries on victims to undo what the brutal liquid fired did. It ain’t just about a pretty face being destroyed, but of infections, blindness and trauma. Bangladesh brought legislative amendments that lead to a 15-20% decrease in acid violence every year since 2002. And where are we?

Clearly acid attack victims aren’t a political votebank here and hence the complete lack of political will to address their grievances. Until sometime back it wasn’t even counted as a crime. There’s no track record or database covered by the National Crime Records Bureau. It’s time we got only licensed shops selling acids only upon production of proper identity proof. The manufacturers must put up a label on the bottles warning the consumers of the harm the acid could do and the consequences of such incidences. It should be ensured that thefts don’t occur in the process of manufacturing, distribution and disposal.

What’s worse is the abysmal healthcare facilities available. There are hardly any wards or doctors for burn injuries in rural areas where most cases are registered. The situation isn’t much better in the metros either.

The government must work diligently to generate more funds for effective rehabilitation programmes. Ensuring justice in stipulated time is essential.

I am here to express myself explicitly to many classes-

Acid Attack Victims

You aren’t victims, so stop calling yourselves one. You are all fighters, crusaders of courage, determination and optimism in the face of despair.

In a culture that celebrates the fair and lovely , it’s obvious that a woman with a scarred face tries to hide . Oh Womaniya, beauty truly is skin deep! This undoubtedly is going to be an unending struggle. Social hypocrisy and stigma aren’t going to let you live. Your will will! Turn your dreams and aspirations into reality. Defy all rules! The scar talks more of society than you. After all society prepares the crime,it’s the criminal who commit’s it.

So be fearless !!!

And to all the unscarred people out there.What if it was you ? Or your beloved ? Who are we to decide what’s to live and dieThe golden rule goes : Do to others as you would like them to do to you. Be empathetic, sensitive and humane. Stop being a mute spectator. Stand up and speak even when you aren’t a target. Else who will when you are?

The hopeful cynical optimist in me knows that we are in for a change.

In the end I’d quote what Ritu Saini, an acid attack survivor had to say,

‘’In a state notorious for female foeticide, a girl’s birth certifies the progressive outlook of her parents. But that didn’t stop others from making my life a living nightmare; so much so that I think dying in the womb might have been a better option.’’

These are the most powerful words one can utter. We are own Monsters and God. So let’s make a better choice !!!