“I felt like a heroine when I saw myself on the calendar,” says Chanchal Kumari. Kumari is one of 11 acid attack survivors who are featured on a calendar released on International Women’s Day by the Stop Acid Attacks campaign in New Delhi.
The 20-year-old was attacked with acid by a man whose advances she spurned when she was 18. Kumari had to undergo five surgeries and will need another 30 to reconstruct her scarred face and neck. Each day has been difficult for this frail woman who comes from a poor family from the Indian state of Bihar, but she is determined to have a career.
“I am even more adamant to prove myself now and will pursue my studies as soon as I get a break from my surgeries,” says Kumari.
The exclusive table calendar called Bello (Italian for beautiful) runs from March 2015 to February 2016 and portrays each survivor doing the job she hopes to pursue. The funds raised through its sale will be used to help treat survivors.
“Acid-attack survivors get rejected everywhere because of their scarred faces,” says New Delhi-based SAA founder, Alok Dixit. “The idea behind this calendar was to spur a debate on the widespread discrimination among women based on their looks.”
For the past two years, since its inception as a Facebook campaign on March 8, 2013, SAA has connected with more than 70 acid-attack survivors and has guided and supported them with their legal fights, medical aid and emotional battles. The campaign is supported completely through crowd-funding and also runs Chhanv (shelter), a three-bedroom home that provides free food and lodging to every acid-attack survivor who is in New Delhi for treatment.
Sheroes Hangout, a cafe in Agra, is another SAA initiative that provides a livelihood for survivors.
Soniya Choudhary, 30, runs a salon out of her home in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, and hopes that it grows into a national chain some day. Her face was disfigured and she lost her right eye after an acid attack in 2004.
“I’m really happy that people are willing to buy our calendar. It shows they are willing to accept us despite our disfigured looks,” she says.
Rupa, another woman featured in the calendar, is skilled at tailoring. She designs and sells garments through Sheroes Hangout and hopes to be known nationally some day.
“My dresses have found buyers – who would’ve thought?” says the 22-year-old excitedly.
For 19-year-old Ritu Saini, joining SAA has changed her life. The national volleyball player wanted to be a sports champion until one of her cousins planned an acid attack on her to settle a property dispute with her parents.
“I tried picking up the game again after the attack, but could not play because I lost vision in one eye,” she says. “My picture in the calendar shows me as happy and stress-free, which is what I have been ever since I joined SAA. Now, I walk without covering my face. I like it the way it is and don’t bother about what others think.” Saini hopes to pursue painting as an alternative profession.
Rupa anticipates that the calendar will spread awareness about acid attacks, help change mindsets and expedite legal changes. “It is high time some laws come into action. How long will women burn?”
•The SAA Women’s Day Calendar is available for US$60 (Dh220) from www.funddreamsindia.com
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