Free hugs from acid attack survivors: IIT Delhi’s campaign
A group of IITians recently came to Connaught Place with acid attack survivors for an hour, giving away free hugs to anyone who wanted one.
In the heart of Connaught Place, young boys held posters written ‘Free Hugs’. Just next to them were three women standing, bracing the humid dusk and yet giving each hug with a broad smile. Their happiness, with difficulty, delineated their facial expressions, that bore marks. These women were victims of acid attack.
As part of Pehchaan - the social campaign, which is the theme of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi’s annual fest, Rendezvous, the students recently came to CP with the acid attack survivors, for an hour-long initiative.
Unlike most of their initiatives, the IITians didn’t publicise this one. “We didn’t publicise about it on social media because we wanted to see how people in general react to their presence,” says Himanshi Gautam, a final year student of chemical engineering at IIT.
“Many people came to hug us, but what was in their mind is uncertain,” said Ritu Saa, a 20-year-old victim from Rohtak. Her companion Madhu Kashyap, a 35-year-old victim from Agra, added, “Abhi bhi bahut log badle nahi hue hain. (Still a lot of people haven’t changed their mindset). This is why we agreed to be part of this initiative when these youngsters approached us.”
As the small group of IITians tried to explain the shoppers about their initiative, the experience left some untouched and others emotional.
Akanksha Singh, 23, an application developer by profession, along with her friend Shabina Shahin, a software engineer paused while crossing F Block of inner circle and contemplated how to approach. “We are seeing acid attack victims face to face, for the first time. Otherwise we had only seen them on TV or in newspapers... I really feel sorry for them,” said Singh. While Shahin observed about the number of hugs people were receiving and said, “It feels so good to see the counting rise from 530 to 618.”
Another shopper, Karishma Ghosh, a 24-year-old doctor, who hugged the victims said, “They are like any other girl in society and should have all those rights and self-confidence to meet people like others.”
“But some didn’t even wish to cross the path where the victims were present and people roaming with families tried to prevent their children from seeing the victims,” said Saksham Gupta, a computer science, final year student at IIT.
Gautam added, “One of the girls wanted to hug the women and went to ask her boyfriend to come along. Instead, her boyfriend dragged her away from the spot.” “Some people were standing and just staring at them,” said Gupta adding, “We wanted this attitude to change and that’s why we brought them here.”
Madhu Kashyap, the 35-year-old victim from Agra said, “It took us long to come here and now it will take time to travel back. Yet we wanted to come, we want people to know that acid attacks are still happening in our society. Still people refuse to acknowledge it.”
After an hour and 690 hugs from Indian and even foreign nationals, the women walked back with the IITians as “survivors” and not victims.