Washington: The first lady of US Michelle Obama has honored acid attack survivor Laxmi with the prestigious ‘International Women of Courage’ award.
Laxmi was only 16 when an acquaintance threw acid on her face while she was waiting at a bus stop in New Delhi’s busy Khan Market in 2005, defacing her permanently. Her attacker was a 32-year old brother of her friend. He was using acid to destroy Laxmi’s beautiful face after she refused to respond to his romantic advances.
She has ever since been campaigning for justice for acid victims all over the world. CNN-IBN had also honoured Laxmi and other acid attack survivors with the ‘Indian of the Year’ award in 2013.
First Lady Michelle Obama paid tribute to the 10 chosen for the illustrious award. According to lady Obama the voices of these women victims are enough to generate inspiration to women around the world. She has also pointed out that their activities have the capacity to empower others to create changes nad make everybody to realise the capability of such powers in association with their obligation.
During the ceremony, Laxmi had read her first poem that defiantly telling her attacker “you will hear and you will be told, that the face you burned is the face I love now.You will hear about me in the darkness of confinement. The time will be a burden for you, when you will know that I am alive, free and thriving and living my dreams.”
The State department has appreciated the courage of Lakshmi to appear in public unlike other acid victims who prefer to hide their disfigurement. They have also praised her willpower to become the standard bearer in India for the movement against the acid attacks.
Video on Michelle Obama honors acid attack victims