Durga Puja in Kolkata highlights plight of acid assault survivors

Acid assault survivors have taken centre stage — actually and figuratively — on the Durga Puja by Dakshindari Youths this yr in Kolkata. As a part of their theme ‘Dahan’ (burning), round 5 acid assault survivors together with feminine theatre practitioners are sharing their story with pandal hoppers visiting the puja.

Every day until Dashami, a bunch of feminine actors are staging a reside theatrical efficiency within the Puja pandal, intermittently all through the day, depicting violence in opposition to girls. Occasionally, the acid assault survivors — 4 of whom hail from West Bengal — are stepping as much as share their lived expertise and protest in opposition to the crime.

“Durga Puja acquired the tag of Intangible Cultural Heritage from UNESCO a number of years again and has emerged as a cultural phenomenon on the worldwide platform. Lakhs of persons are anticipated to go to our pandal on daily basis. So, we considered utilizing this attain to lift consciousness in regards to the violence in opposition to girls, particularly within the type of acid assaults,” Partha Verma, joint secretary of Dakshindari Youths advised The Hindu.

It is price noting that West Bengal recorded the best variety of acid assaults within the nation in 48 circumstances and 52 victims, in keeping with the 2022 report by the National Crime Records Bureau. 

“Acid assault is a horrific crime that’s dedicated even to at the present time. For our silver jubilee yr, we wished to transcend simply creating an aesthetic Puja pandal. We will take into account our efforts this yr to achieve success if we are able to evoke empathy and consciousness even in a small part of individuals or deliver a few change in mindset in those that are inclined to inflict such violence,” Mr. Verma added.

The artist for this Durga Puja is Anirban Das.

Upon coming into the pandal, guests are instantly met with inventive imagery of citizen protests in opposition to acid assaults. The idol of the ten-handed Goddess Durga options a big perforation within the abdomen space, representing the hole stays left behind within the lives of victims of violence. All across the idol, there are inventive renditions of figures from well-known work just like the Mona Lisa, within the context of the ache skilled by girls in violence.

During the reside efficiency, actors carry out throughout the pandal and even behind the idol, changing into seen via the big perforation on the centre of the idol 

“As one can see, there are a number of mirrors and dressing tables positioned across the idol. The mirrors have all been made opaque. This represents the truth that most acid assault survivors are identified to lose their eyesight after the assault and are unable to see themselves within the mirror anymore. There can also be a whole lot of ache after they understand themselves within the mirror after the assault,” Mr. Verma stated.

‘Festive gimmicks’

However, Shaheen Malik, an acid assault survivor and activist who runs the NGO Brave Souls Foundation, stated such initiatives are mere gimmicks if the notice programme shouldn’t be carried out persistently all year long. 

“It is tragic that individuals lastly remembered us acid assault survivors for the sake of a pageant theme. For the remainder of the yr, the identical individuals won’t care about us or the problem. There isn’t any use of doing this for ten days in a yr in the course of the festive season and never doing something for survivors or for prevention for the remainder of the yr,” Ms. Malik stated. 

She highlighted that West Bengal has lately been witnessing a excessive variety of circumstances of violence in opposition to girls and has persistently recorded a few of the highest variety of acid assault circumstances within the nation. 

“It is a disgrace that the identical State that worships the Devi additionally witnesses such violence in opposition to girls. People deal with us like a festive theme after which therapeutic massage their egos as if they’ve completed one thing nice. Acid assaults as a social concern must be at all times addressed and handled with utmost significance. We should be valued on daily basis, not simply throughout Durga Puja,” Ms. Malik stated.