Reshma Quereshi made headlines in September this year, when she uploaded a series of beauty and make up vlogs, teaching people make up tricks. The underlying message of the series, Beauty Tips by Reshma, was to raise awareness about acid attack in India. A part of the Make Love Not Scars series, the video sent out a message that acid in India is as freely available as a black eyeliner or a red lipstick. Despite the law stating that acid cannot be sold freely, we hear about attacks every other day in India.
In 2014, at the age of 17, Reshma was left severely disfigured after her brother-in-law threw acid on her, after her sister had left him. “I was only 17 at the time and my offenders are walking free today, while I have to go through life without a face,” Reshma told People Magazine. She and her sister were visiting a town in northern India, when her sister’s estranged husband got two men to attack them. “[My sister] shouted, ‘Reshma, you run!’ But before I could do anything, his two friends pushed me to the ground, held my hands and poured acid all over my face.”
Reshma approached the Make Love Not Scars organisation for monetary aid for her surgery. A year later she is working on spreading awareness about acid attacks in the country, while continuing with her life.
Journalist Marco Werman recently met Reshma who has put behind the horrors of last year and has become more confident now. “Reshma is more confident now, her brother,” Azaiz tells me. “I hear that renewed confidence when she explains to me that it’s the heart that counts; the body is simply a vessel to transport that heart through life,” he writes.
“She seems resigned to awkward interaction, so long as people don’t just stare. She tells me she doesn’t like leaving the house, going out socially, and I understand. She does occasionally go out though, when Azaiz coaxes her. A few nights ago, he took her to the movies. She put on lipstick, wrapped a veil around her face, and wore sunglasses.”
Marco also went out and asked men around about acid attacks in the country. He was told about the ‘different culture of India’ where women were meant to stay at home. However in the sea of such backward comments, there are a few men who believe that ‘such things are wrong’.
Check out Reshma’s inspiring story in this PRI’s The World video. While she gets her life back on track, we still have a long, long way to go.
Images via PRI
More On >> Balancing Act
