“Victory at all costs, victory in spite of all terror, victory however long and hard the road may be; for without victory, there is no survival.” – Winston Churchill

And when it comes to describing victory, nobody does it better than these acid attack survivors who fought all odds with incredible bravery, spirit, and will power – finally emerging as winners by achieving their goals. These are their stories:

1. Laxmi:

Source: TheBetterIndia

Laxmi was 16 years old in 2005, when a guy approached her and expressed a romantic interest in her. When she refused the 32-year-old’s offer, he expressed his anger after five months and poured acid on her face. This changed Laxmi’s life forever. Today, the mother of one, Laxmi is a fierce campaigner for the rights of other women like her. She is the director of Chhanv Foundation, an NGO dedicated to help acid attack survivors. Her petition led the Supreme Court to order the central and state governments to regulate the sale of acid. She received an International Women of Courage Award from Michelle Obama in 2014.

2. Rupa:

As told to: Your Story. Picture Source: TheBetterIndia

Rupa hails from a village near Muzaffarnagar, Uttar Pradesh. In 2008, her step mother poured acid on her face when she was sleeping, because she did not want to spend money on her wedding. When even her father refused to support her, Rupa decided to abandon her family, leave behind her last name, and build her own identity. Today she runs her boutique at the Sheroes Hangout, a café in Agra, with four other acid attack survivors.

3. Ritu:

As told to: NewsMinute. Picture Source: TheBetterIndia

Ritu’s cousin poured acid on her due to some feud related to property issues in the family. She had left from home for a volleyball game, when two men approached her in a bike and the pillion rider poured the acid. She was only 17 at the time. She is gradually recovering from the incident.

4. Rekha:

Source: TheBetterIndia

In October 2013, Rekha’s partner poured concentrated acid on her head. Resident of a village in Haveri, Karnataka, Rekha had moved to Bengaluru to work in a garment factory and support herself and her two-and-a-half-year-old daughter. She stayed with a colleague and got into a relationship with her colleague’s brother, who later attacked her. After six painful surgeries, Rekha is slowly recovering. Her daughter goes to school now, and the proud mother hopes for her bright future.

5. Monica:

Source: YouTube

Monica was a 20-year-old student perusing her undergraduate degree from National Institute Of Fashion Technology, New Delhi. She was also an aspiring model. But one fateful day, when she was in Lucknow visiting her parents, a guy threw acid on her face. The accused wanted to marry her, but she wanted to concentrate on her future and refused his proposal. Her parents sold everything for Monica’s treatment, and she went back to college to finish her studies after multiple surgeries. She is now studying in Parsons School of Design, New York.

And when it comes to describing survivors, empowerment, and extraordinary courage, here is yet another story of a family that is moving forward in the face of adversities in a brilliant way. Watch here. #KhudKoKarBuland

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