Beyond burns & scars: Acid attack survivors turn trauma into triumph

Kolkata: Sunita Dutta was a teen when a local youth hurled acid on her 16 years ago. While the 6-year treatment, including 25 surgeries, was tough to endure, the trauma of the attack was equally painful. Today, Dutta buried the nightmare behind her to lead a happy life with her husband and their 2-year-old child.Stories of courage, resilience and zeal to rebuild lives afresh emerged from IPGMER & SSKM on Tuesday, where acid attack survivors shared the horror they went through and the hope ahead."My life came to a standstill. Even as my parents and family stood firmly with me, it was the society and system that initially refused to accept me. I had to even drop out of school," said Dutta.Her facial deformity made her shun the world until she met her husband on a social networking site. Today, she runs a small café in her locality."The physical pain and mental trauma that an acid attack survivor has to go through are endless. But at one point, we need to pick up the pieces to stand again," said Shampa Mahato from Nabadwip.‘Healing, Dignity, and Empowerment: A Well-Being Dialogue with Acid Attack Survivors and Their Caregivers', organised in commemoration of International Women's Day, was held by the dept of psychiatric social work, Institute of Psychiatry (IOP) – COE, IPGME&R, Kolkata, and Chhanv Foundation, and included various stakeholders to support the survivors."Acid attack is a cruel form of violence where the intention is not only bodily harm, but to attack dignity, erode confidence and identity. Institutes like IOP can help survivors rebuild lives," said Andrew Fleming, British deputy high Commissioner, East & North East India. While there is no exact data on number of acid attack victims in Bengal, Chhanv Foundation, which works with survivors, said it traced around 57 cases. A café run by these survivors is in the offing, Anshu, a survivor and a trustee, said. "We as a society need to be sensitive so that we stand by them during the healing," said clinical psychology associate Prof Bidita Bhattacharya, department head at IOP-COE.