Bravery Beyond Scars - Shaheen Malik
In 2009, my life was a tapestry of dreams and ambitions, woven with the threads of academic pursuits and professional aspirations. Just like other girls, I was enjoying my college days. I was pursuing my MBA and also working as a student counsellor. In November, a day changed my life.
As I stepped out of my office on that ominous day, I just crossed the stairs of my office. A man stood there, his face concealed by a handkerchief. I assumed it was due to pollution, a common sight in the bustling streets. Little did I suspect the malevolence concealed beneath that cloth. Approaching him, I was met with a horrifying reality as he callously splashed acid on my face. I was not aware at that moment of what happened to me.
The searing pain was instant, and my world crumbled in screams that echoed the depths of despair. I was feeling that somebody had injected needles in my face. I staggered, grappling with the unimaginable agony as the acid wreaked havoc on 90 percent of my face. Some people took me to the hospital. They continuously poured water on me. The hospital recommended going to Delhi. Then I was referred to Rohtak, and my family came; they took me to Delhi, but the hospital refused to take my case and said it was a police case.
My life changed after the incident; I lost interest in everything. My confidence had vanished, and I limited myself from hospital to home and from home to hospital. I didn’t go on the terrace or balcony.
The years that followed were a nightmarish journey through physical and emotional torment. Unaware of the harrowing realities of acid attacks, I clung to the hope that surgeries would restore normalcy. I used to ask my doctor many times when I would recover. They used to say, Don't ask this question. I was not yet ready to accept it, but with time, I accepted it.
The assailants were not strangers but colleagues and fellow students from my university. Motivated by jealousy, they orchestrated this heinous act, driven by the shadows of their inadequacies in the face of my achievements.
An acid attack survivor does not only face mental and physical trauma but also financial challenges. For surgeries, you need to have a lot of money. The treatment is very painful and, at times, expensive. Nobody helps you when you are going through such a situation. I became a financial burden as my surgeries were so costly. In 2013, to balance my financial expenses, I started a job at an NGO. During this time, I met with a lot of acid attack survivors like me. I got inspiration from helping them.
I helped a family; someone had thrown acid on six members of the family, including a 6-month-old infant and a 60-year-old lady. They gave me blessings and appreciated my work. Many such stories have continuously inspired me to move forward.
The pain changed me into an unbreakable woman. I have worked with many NGOs that are working for acid attack survivors. I felt that no organisation is working with a holistic approach. In 2021, I embarked on an endeavour. I founded the Brave Souls Foundation and Apna Ghar in Delhi. As the name suggests, "Brave Soul" is the home of brave acid attack survivors who are the victims of heinous crimes, still facing harsh society with grace. This wasn’t merely a response to my pain, but a testament to the resilience that blossomed within me. I helped over 300 acid attack survivors find solace; their lives touched by a spectrum of support, from medical interventions to psychological healing, education, vocational training, and beyond. The women living in Apna Ghar belong to different states, and most of them are young. They live in Apna Ghar during their surgery period, and at a time, 10 people can live in it. Our Ngo Brave Souls help acid-attack survivors in their journey to fight against it. We support them with their legal needs and surgical care. Our organisation also assists the young survivors in their education and employment.
Justice eludes me even after a 14-year wait, as my case lingers without a conclusion. The system's excruciatingly slow speed has made such matters worse. I request to take into account the creation of a fast-track court, especially for acid attack cases that take so long. Furthermore, I implore the government to accelerate the entire process of administering punishment in addition to guaranteeing just reparation.