He changed my face, not my heart; He threw acid on my face not on my dreams.
It felt cold first. Then I felt an intense burning. Then the liquid melted my skin. I felt as if someone had set my whole body on fire. The skin was just coming off, it was like dripping, from my hands and from my face.
People always say that inner beauty and hard work is what is important but, in reality, few people go beyond one’s physical features. More than a person’s capability, qualification, and hard work, employers focus on the looks of an individual
Society is cruel and taunts even a normal skinned person, then who was I? I was the victim and I had nothing to be ashamed of. I decided that I will not feel sorry for myself and instead lift myself for my family. I will survive to tell my story so that no one else faces a similar situation or even contemplate suicide when they face rejection by the community.
People told my family to give me an injection that would kill me. Doctors said I won’t survive, but I HAD TO. That person attacked me once, but the society kept attacking me again and again with their negativity.
Laxmi, once known as the acid attack survivor, is now known as just Laxmi, who is a mother, a symbol of courage, hope and love for life.
I am a motivational speaker and a messenger for a lot of social voices, Founder of StopSaleAcid Campaign, International Women of Courage award by US First Lady Michelle Obama in 2014 & NDTV Indian of the year 2013.
