"One of them pinned me down while another held my hands and legs. The father of my boyfriend then forced acid down my throat,"recalls Shabana Khatun who was called down by his boyfriend’s family to decide on their marriage.

An act of utter shame solely aimed to disfigure, torture or take revenge from the victim by pouring acids give disturbing insight into the horrific consequences a women faces in India due to some very petty reasons. The reasons that turn on the accused may range from being rejected for sexual intercourse to simply insinuated anger in them. There have been even worse cases – this monstrosity is not just perpetrated by jilted lovers or stalkers, but also by one’s own parent as an extreme reaction to their child being born female. Activist groups estimate that three acid attacks occur in India every week.

Acid attacks are classic example of the patriarchy system in India. A boy is allowed to do anything he pleases and always escapes with a slap on the wrist. He is treated specially and this conditions him to believe that he is entitled to everything he wants, including the girl of his choice. The perpetrators are either never caught or caught and investigated lightly. The other noted reasons could be land, property, and/or business disputes

There is a tremendous gap between rights and reality in India. State institutions have failed women and the lack of law enforcement is a major reason why violence against women is under reported. Even after continuous pushing by courts the open availability of acids comes as the cheapest weapon. Enacting stringent law to curb acid attacks still isn’t sound as rape. The accused walks free while the victims carry the sufferings for life. The lives ahead of such victims are hard.

Some worthy reading stories of acid attack survivors.

  • A two-month-old Anmol was being breastfed by her mother when her father doused them both with a can of acid with the intention to kill.Anmol Rodriquez then emerged as a fashionista and a saviour for many others like her.

  • Attacked at the young age of 15, Pramodini underwent multiple surgeries to get her vision back. The positive outcome of the days spent at the hospital was that she met Saroj, who was friends with one of the nurses there, and fell in love.

  • In the year 2003, three men entered Sonali's house and threw acid on her face, disfiguring it permanently. She featured in a crime programme once and was noticed by Chittaranjan Tiwari. He got in touch with her and proposed for marriage after a few months.

  • Out of sheer fear, Geeta dropped all charges against her husband, welcomed him home, and had a third daughter, Poonam. The women have spent the past two decades living in fear that he will attack them again.

If India manages to regulate the sale of acids, it may see a drop in attacks but the greater struggle will be in breaking down the cultural norms that encourage these attacks. As a study by the Avon Global Center found, these attacks often are personal, and “perpetrators often intend to destroy what society considers to be one of the most valuable traits of a woman—her beauty". Curbing these attacks need stringent dealing and mutual upgrading of the law enforcement and creating ease of living for survivors.

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Profile of Bhumi Sinha
Bhumi Sinha  •  4y  •  Reply
I tell you something brutally honest...its all wrong in the upbringing and only this could be the solution to rectify a slightest part of the society...preaching of parents to be successful, earn big but hardly they talk about "morals..values..inner happiness..soul". getting inclined to the 'higher' version of human form (god) comes only to justify man's own greed and own wrong..and then the creation of religion, another way to divide..casteism increasing the barrier..state barriers follows..community barriers... eventually this hierarchy sees divisions of humanity..abiding us to sets of infinite rules and norms..and we call this a "society"..society that its just a myth. its a word parallel to god, just stopping you from doing things.. its a pathetic world..hardly people talking of sense.talk against one act of government and you are 'anti-nationalist'..the rising intolerance prohibits you to practice free speech..there are a lot to talk but hardly any sensible youth.. you are too impressive and sensible mind..
Profile of Prakhar Dixit
Prakhar Dixit  •  4y  •  Reply
This is what I believe and it's my personal opinion may be I am wrong !
Profile of Prakhar Dixit
Prakhar Dixit  •  4y  •  Reply
Ok so why it's all happening, it's all happening because of a dumb belief system given to them since there child hood , a belief system which make them Hindu , muslim, catholic and Buddhist too, but not a human, how can they become human cause they are interpreting religion in very wrong way ! They are learning that God is someone to whomever you will say something you will get and after that you will sacrifice animal and God will be happy so it look so simple no! Isn't? Now let's again think over it why all had been done , it's only for sence gratification so if for your sence gratification you can kill a goat or buffalo so why not human its a same mind set which is compelling them to do this ! Cause they think that they are superior top in the food web! So anybody ,anyone ,human, animal , anything which is not according to them or make them happy and satisfy there ego , just change it ,kill it ,remove it ,do rape, trough acid, the only thing is that the sense is to be Gratified. And so what they had done so much sins, ok ok do not worry if you are Hindu go to Haridwar take bath in Ganga it'll all removed, oh you are muslim ok go to hazz and it all removed ! So this is the mind set cause they are not going to root ,the roots are vedas which say (वसुधैव कुटुंबकम) that means all world is mine family , bhagwad Geeta which say that ,don't go for sense gratification cause your goal is leberation! but how many of Hindus read these thing no they only read, do this , and you will get that. so they are doing it and now law , so a person who thinks he is capable to manage God so he is even capable to manage law also , and yes again oh my god it's India only in this if a famous actors who has done a serious criminal offence rolled life of innocent while they are sleeping , after many year of shitty law procedures got a clean chit and everybody knows the truth then also the person is doing well !!! Earning well! This is society you just throw few rape scenes in movie and it'll be hit! See the web series created in India in last 2 to 3 year ! People are interested to see ,two girls touching each ones body and making sex ! But at the same time they can't accept lesbian and gays ! So what you can say ,they are like this and will be like this untill and unless they are first to be made human then anyone other! They had to be made feel that killing and ant is same as human as said by a ancient philosopher (Socorates) that if you had a killed animal on your plate just don't talk about world peace! So only then we can make a society with healthy mind set!!! Other wise just leave it what happening just let it happen ! By the way this is India here we can accept a porn star but not rape victim !!!!!!!!!!!