Challenging Our Perception of Beauty

Recent photo shoot of acid-attack survivors raises $14,054

BANGALORE: Gender violence making headlines and Twitter hashtags has become a regular affair. Online fora erupt with dissent and it is often plain depressing to watch feminists and 'male right activists' digress from the issue at hand and resort to personal attacks. However, amid the many news updates and posts that draw flak are a few genuine attempts at raising awareness that receive a hat-tip from the netizens.

 A recent photo shoot by a Delhi-based photographer that shows acid-attack survivors sporting designer apparel has been trending on social media in the past week.

Rahul Saharan, who works with the NGO  Chhavn, has attempted to give a new perspective to beauty through these photographs.

 "Women do not have to be tall or fair or thin to be beautiful. It's all about their confidence and how comfortable they are in their own skin," he says, adding, "These girls are beautiful the way they are. I didn't even have to ask them to pose. I have been working with them for quite sometime now and they were very comfortable when I was behind the camera."

 Acid-attack survivors Rupa, Ritu, Chanchal, Laxmi and Sonam are part of the project, while Rupa has designed the outfits. Under the aegis of Chhavn, the team hopes to raise funds to help her establish her own boutique.

 Rupa's stepmother threw acid on her six years ago. Her mother had passed away when she was a child and Rupa was physically and mentally abused by the people she called family. Today, after 11 surgeries, she is part of the Stop Acid-attacks campaign and fights for women who have suffered a similar fate. She dreams of making a career out of her love for stitching clothes and wishes to be financially independent someday.

 Chhavn hopes to rent a shop for Rupa in a decent locality in Delhi and provide her with the capital to buy the necessary equipment. The crowdfunding page on Indiegogo has raised $14,054 of their initial goal of $10,000. Those who wish to contribute can log on to bit.ly/rupasaa.  

Related Stories

No stories found.
The New Indian Express
www.newindianexpress.com