Laxmi Agarwal

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Laxmi Agarwal at the presentation of the International Women of Courage Award 2014

Laxmi Agarwal (born June 1, 1990 in New Delhi , India ) is a known victim of an acid attack by a rejected stalker . Through her involvement in the non-governmental organization Stop Acid Attacks , legislative changes were initiated in India. Laxmi encourages other acid victims to lead lives in public.

Acid attack

Naeem Khan, the 32-year-old brother of a friend, proposed marriage to Laxmi, who was not half his age. However, she refused him, and he reacted violently and stalked her for ten months . In 2005, Laxmi met Naeem Khan in South Delhi , who was traveling with a companion. This pushed 16-year-old Laxmi to the ground, and Naeem Khan doused her face with acid. A taxi driver came to Laxmi's aid, poured water on her face, and took her to the nearby Safdarjang Hospital.

After the attack, she spent ten weeks in the hospital. Nine surgeries were required over the years to treat the effects of the attack on the face and body. After the last operation, Laxmi had to be artificially ventilated for four days. The costs of around 26,000 euros had to be borne by her family and friends.

The assassin was sentenced to ten years in prison in 2009.

Lobbying

Laxmi decided to resign as acid victims in the public, and started for the nonprofit organization Stop Acid Attacks (in German: Stop acid attacks ) to work.

Through their commitment it was possible to bring about a change in the law in India. In 2013 she submitted a list of 27,000 signatures opposed to the unhindered acquisition of acid. As a result, this possibility of sale was prohibited by law in India. In addition, it was regulated by law that all health treatments for acid victims are borne by the government. However, Laxmis believes that implementing the law in practice remains difficult.

In spring 2014, Laxmi received the US government's International Women of Courage Award . Upon her return from the awards show, she was offered a weekly talk show for acid attack survivors on News Express television .

In January 2016, Laxmi received a modeling contract . The director of the fashion company Viva N Diva , Manan Shah, had found out about Laxmi in the newspaper and wanted to set an example with an advertising campaign and give her the opportunity to earn money. The campaign ran under the name "Face of Courage" ("face of courage"). In the run-up to London Fashion Week 2016, Laxmi ran as a model on the catwalk as part of the British Asian Trust Charity Fashion Show .

With the help of the non-profit organization, several Sheroes Cafés (an English pun made up of heroes  = heroes and she  = she) have been opened in Agra , Lucknow and Udaipur , in which survivors of acid attacks can find work. After Prince William and his wife Kate received an invitation to visit Cafe Sheroes Hangout during their stay in Agra on April 16, 2016 , Laxmi was invited to the British High Commission at the request of Prince William in advance of the trip to to inform the high-ranking guests in a face-to-face meeting about the fate of acid victims and the work of the café.

The socially critical Bollywood movie Chhapaak was made based on their experiences .

Private life

While working for Stop Acid Attacks , Laxmi met its founder, Alok Dixit, and they became a couple.

In 2014, Laxmi's brother died of tuberculosis. In the same year, her father, who had strongly supported her in her work, died of a heart attack at the age of 45.

On March 25, 2015, Laxmi gave birth to their daughter Pihu. After the attack, Laxmi stopped using her last name; no surname is given on her daughter's birth certificate either.

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d e f g The Guardian - Acid attack survivors take to the catwalk in London fashion show. The Guardian, September 12, 2016, accessed April 25, 2017 .
  2. ↑ US Department of State - 2014 International Women of Courage Award Winners (English), accessed April 1, 2017.
  3. ↑ US Department of State - 2014 International Women of Courage Award Winners (English), accessed April 1, 2017.
  4. ↑ a b Mail Online - 'I worried my baby would be scared of me': Acid attack survivor reveals her terror during pregnancy over how her daughter would react to her scarred face (English), accessed on April 27, 2017.
  5. ^ The Sidney Morning Herald - Acid attack survivor Laxmi gets modeling contract (English), accessed on April 27, 2017.
  6. ↑ a b The Times of India - Delhi acid attack survivor Laxmi takes London ramp , accessed April 27, 2017.
  7. ^ Hindustan Times - Will-Kate meet acid attack survivor Laxmi , accessed April 27, 2017.
  8. ↑ Hindustan Times - Vikrant Massey to work with Deepika Padukone in Meghna Gulzar's film on acid attack survivor , accessed January 11, 2020.
  9. ↑ Hindustan Times - Punjab's acid attack survivors attend spl screening of 'Chhapaak' , accessed January 11, 2020.
  10. ↑ a b The Indian Express - I feared the sight of me would scare her ... All she did was snuggle up, and go to sleep: Acid attack survival Laxmi , accessed on April 27, 2017.
personal data
SURNAME Agarwal, Laxmi
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Laxmi
BRIEF DESCRIPTION Indian woman, acid victim and activist against acid attacks
DATE OF BIRTH June 1, 1990
PLACE OF BIRTH New Delhi , India