Acid attack survivor: I don’t want to hide my face

Kavita Bisht, who hails from Kanal village in Uttarakhand, was just 19 years old when a man threw acid on her face because she refused to befriend him. After going through several years of physical and emotional trauma following the acid attack, she gave new direction to her life, finding her life’s purpose in empowering other women and even became Uttarakhand’s brand ambassador for women empowerment. Here’s her remarkable story in her own words:

It was a regular Saturday morning. I reached the bus stop to board a bus to my office in Delhi. I clearly remember the date; it was February 2, 2008. Suddenly, two men on a bike came close to me. Their faces were covered. And before I could understand anything, they threw acid on my face and sped away.

I couldn’t understand what had happened. I thought someone had thrown water on me. Initially, I couldn’t feel anything. And then my skin and face started to melt. I felt a sharp burning sensation. I started shouting for help, but no one came close to me. I could hear the sound of cars and vehicles passing by. I could hear the chatter of people all around me. But no one came forward to help me.

After an hour, I heard a man’s voice. An uncle I knew identified me. My face had already swollen up and become unrecognisable. He told me that someone had thrown acid on me. I went numb. He took me to a hospital, but they refused to admit me without an FIR. We then went to the police station, but they didn’t file an FIR without a guardian. Finally, when my company found out about the attack, they sent an ambulance and admitted me to Safdarjung Hospital.

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I remained unconscious for six days. When I woke up, my parents were near me. But I couldn’t see them. I had lost both my eyes. I went unconscious again, and I finally woke up after a month.

I remained in the hospital for four months and underwent several surgeries. But my eyes couldn’t be saved.

I knew little about my attacker. I had never met him. He apparently stayed somewhere near my house and saw me going to the office every day. Through a roommate of mine, he conveyed his wish to marry me. I rejected his advances. I was just 19 years old, and getting involved in a relationship was not something I wanted then.

He couldn’t take this rejection. He was arrested by the police immediately after the acid attack, but was out of jail after six months.

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After I was discharged from the hospital, my real struggle began. One can somehow heal from the physical pain, but emotional trauma can’t be forgotten so easily. After I returned to my village, I didn’t come out of my room for two years.

Extended family members and neighbours turned nasty, referring to me and my disfigured face to scare their babies. They would say things like, ‘please sleep otherwise I will call Kavita didi.’

I went into depression and tried to commit suicide several times. But my story was not destined to end with the acid attack. Finally, I took the path of social service.

I went to the National Institute of Visually Handicapped in Dehradun in 2011. I learned skills like writing shorthand, using computers, stitching, and making candles and envelopes.

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I started to make ends meet through weaving and stitching. I was introduced to Sandeep Rawat, who runs the USR Indu Samiti School in Ramnagar catering to children with various disabilities. This was a turning point in my life. I started working with him and taught basic English and mathematics to the children.

I financially supported over 30 children in their education, helped several women get the right healthcare, and access to government schemes. Mr Rawat gave me land with basic infrastructure in Peerumadara to run my training centre. I named it “Kavita’s Home”. 

I used this opportunity to support other women. I started training rural women in stitching, doll-making, and other things free of charge. Over time, they started making products like candles, diyas, cushions, dolls and handbags. The women get a commission on the items being sold.

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In 2015, the Uttarakhand government made me the brand ambassador for women empowerment.

The attack on me changed my life. In my 16 years of life as a blind person, I have learned so much. I have learned to take care of not just myself but other people too. I have become self-sufficient and have also managed to make my family proud.

I am currently doing my BA in psychology from an open university. I am also pursuing a diploma in education.

I don’t hide my face anymore; I don’t do makeup; and I don’t cover my eyes. I have come this far, and I am proud of myself.

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