Page 29 - English Tehelka Issue 5 - March 15, 2018

acid aTTack

nlike other acid at - days to come was enhanced cruelty a routine. She accepted this as <Al- treatment and getting legal action
tack victims, Reshma’s and multiple pregnancies. Reshma lah’s> will and reconciled to a life initiated.
scars are not visible. delivered five daughters and after unfit for animals. Medical investigation revealed
This is because acid was each delivery she was beaten up But then, July 24, 2013 changed that aborting would be a grave
U thrown on her stomach and treated worse than an animal. everything in her life. Reshma shud- threat to her life. It was decided to
and private parts. Her life story un- Her health started deteriorating ders as she recalls that fateful after- continue with the pregnancy but
veils a gory tale of the most inhu- fast, but Usman seemed to care two noon. During her earlier five preg- with strict medical monitoring.
man act that can be perpetrated on hoots for that as he wanted a male nancies she was being beaten up for Meanwhile, the foundation filed a
another human being. Angry with child at any cost. not going in for sex determination legal case against her husband fol-
her for giving birth to five daugh- Reshma had no option but to tests. When she got pregnant the lowing which he was put behind
ters and refusing to undergo a sex bear humiliation and cruelty from sixth time, when her eldest daugh- bars for 17 years.
determination test when she was not only the husband but from his ter was thirteen-years-old, the pres- Reshma’s sixth child was born on
pregnant the sixth time, it was her entire family. Her parents did inter- sure was even more but she refused February 1, 1994 — a baby boy. Soon
husband Usman who threw acid vene a few times and came to Luc- to give in. after birth he was taken to stay with
on Reshma. The act done with ut- know when they learnt of her being The violent physical abuse • Targeting daughters. And then all voices faded she must give life a last shot. She Reshma’s parents in Kanpur while
innocence and she fainted. gestured to a press reporter visit- the daughters stayed put at their
For three days she went through ing the hospital and managed to
Despite ban on spells of unconsciousness and semi utter a few words seeking his help. paternal house.
Chhanv continues to support
sale of acid,
Heart rending story of an attacks consciousness. There was no one He helped get the doctors to read- Reshma. She was given the job of
mit her and start treatment. The
working as a waitress at Sheroes
to attend to her, no medical aid, no
continue to
food.
next morning her story was known Café in Lucknow to eke out a live-
mutilate
lihood. She was lodged in a shelter
“Mere zakhmo sey pus bah raha tha to the world. Chhanv Foundation,
acid attack survivor innocent wom- jo mere kapdo may chipak gaya tha a forum that has been working for home of Mahila Kalyan, where she
en (Pictures
(Puss was oozing out of my wounds acid attack survivors, stepped in and shares a room with another acid at-
is representa-
tack survivor.
which got stuck to my clothes),” said took on her entire responsibility,
tional)
Reshma is just 35, she has a full
Reshma, wincing at the painful
memories. providing her the best of medical life ahead of her but her traumatic
It was on the third day that news
The story of Reshma, an ordinary Indian girl, is just one example of the inhuman reached her family in Kanpur. They past has left deep scars on her soul
which fail to heal. Reshma can -
torture that several women in our country undergo for failing to fulfil the hollow desires of rushed to her aid, horrified at the not think of spending her life with
their families, kulsum mustafa reports nearly dead daughter who lay in Founder of ‘Stop acid another man. “Mujsey kaun shaadi
attack’ campaign in 2013,
acute agony before them. They just kareyga,(who will marry me?)” is
lifted her up and left for Kanpur. it was the vision and how she reacts to a question on her
With no money, Reshma was dedication of two young men future plans, adding, “Abhi thak to
ter vengeance, anger seething with seemed to last for an eternity. refused admission in private hospi- from Uttar Pradesh — both yeh hi hai, (This is how it is till now)”.
frustration appears to have no Acid was poured on Twelve weeks pregnant Reshma tals and reaching a government in budding journalists — Alok But yes, Reshma does have a
parallels. Reshma’s private bore it all. She was relieved when the state she was in was impossible. Dixit and Ashish Shukla dream - of one day having a house
Eldest of four siblings, Reshma that day Usman left her and went All through she could feel nothing that saw the setting up of of her own, big enough for all her
was born in Kanpur into a poor parts for producing out of the house. Generally after except excruciating pain. Chhanv Foundation, an NGO six children. Reshma knows she can
Muslim family. She was married five daughters beating her up he left and did not Her weeping father begged the dedicated to help acid attack make this dream come true with
off at the age of 16, in 1998, to Us- return home till late night or even doctors to have pity on her daugh- survivors in India. It was the hard work. Thanks to the support
man, an auto-rickshaw driver and and failing to give the next day. But this time he was ter who was dying. Finally, one doc- petition of Chhanv director and shelter given to her by Chhanv,
the only son among two sisters back in less than an hour. He was tor paid heed and she was admitted she has developed confidence
in Lucknow. Right from the first birth to a son carrying a small cardboard box in to Haylet hospital. Here too cruel Laxmi Agarwal, herself an that makes her believe “ladkiya
day when she entered the house, his hand. Before Reshma realized fate intervened. When the doctor’s acid attack survivor, that led kuch bhi kar sakti hain (Girls can do
Reshma was treated by Usman as what was happening she saw him team found out that she was preg- the Supreme Court to order anything)”.
an object of sexual gratification. He ill-treated but poverty and respon- take out the bottle which had some nant, they refused to treat her till a ban on sale of acid in retail And yes she does not forget to
had made his desire for a son clear sibility of other children prevented liquid, abused her for not providing husband was called. He was sent outlets in February 2013. express her undying gratitude for
on the wedding night itself for he them from offering any support to him a son and throw the liquid with for, pleaded and begged to help save The minimum punishment journalists too as by telling her story
strongly believed that on him lied her. Reshma was uneducated, knew force at her stomach. It was agoniz- Reshma’s life but Usman refused to for an acid attack offender to the world they made it possible
the responsibility of propagating no skills and could not even think of ing and she started writhing in pain, come. Reshma’s condition started is 10 years’ imprisonment for her to get treatment, justice and
his lineage. stepping out of the house without the burning sensation made her deteriorating fast and the poor par- with fine extending upto life now encouragement to face society
Thus, when their first daughter the permission of her husband and wail like an animal who was being ents had no option but to witness imprisonment. confidently and boldly.
was born two years later all hell in-laws. Taunted, tormented and slaughtered. All she could feel was their daughter die each minute.
broke loose. What followed in the beaten black and blue everyday was unbearable pain and wails of her It was then that she decided that letters@tehelka.com
tehelka / 15 march 2018 28 www.tehelka.com tehelka / 15 march 2018 29 www.tehelka.com

28-29 Kulsum.indd 2-3 27/02/18 5:34 PM