A Written Ode to Acid Attack Survivors

#2 at Sahaas- the Literary Competition organized by CLIMB DTU

Beauty, what is it? Courage- how will you define it? Victory- what synonym will you use for it?

India, the subcontinent of cultures where the divine Feminine symbol is worshipped, prevails to be the region where women are supposed to behave and live their lives in the specific way that the patriarchal society defines and assumes to be morally justified.

When a womxn to put forward her words, the pretentious men try to satisfy their ego through certain heinous masculine actions, assuming they have succeeded in establishing their supremacy. Individuals who have undergone such attacks, nobody can measure your pain. You suffered for something when you had not oppressed anyone. That aches my heart.

A question pops up in my mind: What is this society we are living in? The Almighty did not give anyone the right to shatter someone he created with so much love. How can someone try to break the self-esteem of a personage by executing such horrific activity to satisfy some paltry ego? But what has triumphed? The spirit and tenacity of the survivors superseded the castle of conspicuous virile. What is more charming is that they are becoming the voice of many unheard, the support for the feeble and emboldening the fragile.

This is what defines real beauty. Some coward personnel can think the skin outward can elucidate who you are. The person you are, how you are re-defining society; what you are doing for humankind is what defines you. And nobody can be more admirable than you. You have shown all the people out there what self-worth means.

This is what courage is. To believe in oneself, not let a grim state of affairs break you down, you have set the example for that. Victory lies on the aspect today that we have successfully seen a change in the perspective of people residing in our country. People now condemn the attackers and not the victims. The long and tedious fight that you fought for the upcoming generations has shown fruitful results.

You are the Phoenix who has risen being more powerful

The zeal in your eyes is real, it is alluring’

The smile you carry is brighter than the moon

Your heart is pure that sprinkles love

You define courage, you expound valour

You have amazed the world with your solidity

The scars define your prowess

You determined to revamp innate endowments

It is lifelike. You are a Hero!

Authored by Krishnangini Kalita (krishnangini.kalita20–01@iimv.ac.in)