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Jigyasa Sahay
Travel-Colours-Quirks are things Jigyasa associates with. She is someone who enjoys the realm of stories and has a penchant for travelling. She believes that one travels through stories they write and ... Read More
Life takes unexpected turns on unexpected days and at unexpected hours. A similar fate was subjected to Pragya Prasun Singh when she was attacked with acid on a fateful night. Since then, Pragya has been fighting every day of her life. Sometimes it is a fight with society and its schemas, sometimes it is the authorities and the rigid, exclusive systems, and, sometimes it is in a fight with oneself only to come out stronger and better. On July 12, the acid attack survivor took to social media to voice the predicament she faced when she went out to open her bank account. In an exclusive conversation with india.com, Pragya divulged into the details about the challenge she faced at the bank. She talked about the nuances of the problems acid survivors face in every- day life, her journey and how Shah Rukh Khan fits in the picture.
Living every day, every hour is a struggle in itself but Pragya gets up to overcome every moment of it. On July 12, Pragya tweeted on SRK’s account narrating her ordeal. She tweeted, “It’s my right too to be able to open a bank account,” Pragya said in a tweet, tagging SRK and his Meer Foundation. She added, “Being an acid attack survivor should not prohibit me from living a life with dignity. It’s unjust that I was denied a bank acct just because I can’t blink for the KYC process. Requesting @iamsrk @MeerFoundation to help me make this world inclusive for all acid attack survivors #iwontblink” (sic).”
Meer Foundation is run by SRK in the name of his father that works for the welfare of acid attack survivors. When asked, why she particularly chose to reach out to SRK and his foundation, Pragya said, “Meer Foundation Atijeevan foundation ke sath associated hai. Shah Rukh’s foundation has helped us to rehabilitate several survivors. Mujhe ye pata hai ki Shah Rukh Khan ko ek empathy hai acid attack survivors ke taraf.”
Just 12 days after marriage, a 23-year-old Pragya was travelling by train when something so awful struck that altered her entire life. Around 2 am, screams filled the train as Pragya cried with fiery pain. She was attacked with acid by one of her suitors whom she refused to marry. The attacker was later apprehended while Pragya sustained nearly 47 per cent burn injuries. Since then, after a long struggle, Pragya learnt to become comfortable in her skin. She stood up for herself and today is a voice of change.
After undergoing several surgeries every year, Pragya decided to lay the genesis of her own foundation Atijeevan. As the etymology goes, ‘ Atijeevan’ is a Sanskrit term that means to have a life after another life. And it holds true for acid attack survivors because this foundation is a means to a new lease on life after the traumatic experience. This foundation became a building, a safe space for acid attack survivors. A place where they got those empathetic ears and the help and motivation to move forward in life.
The lives of acid attack survivors is not a cakewalk. It’s riddled with ordeals at nuanced things that probably several of us cannot even imagine or comprehend. Narrating the details of one such incident, Pragya elaborated on what conspired at the bank.
Why was Pragya unable to open a bank account?
According to Pragya, she was unable to open a new bank account due to KYC rules that only recognise eyes as proof of life. There is no alternate provision for this other than filling out forms physically and then waiting for days to the get job done. ” Logon ka ek-ek ghante mai kaam hojata hai, wahi mujhe ek -ek hafta ya zydad lagta hai,” said Pragya. Due to acid attack, she and several others cannot blink their eyes denying them the basic facility to get their KYC done online quickly. For them, these processes are still in wraps of old bureaucratic chaos while for others they have progressed digitally.
‘ I thought I would collapse…’
The founder of Atijeevan further said that this is the same case when trying to get a sim card. Narrating an old incident, Pragya said once she went out to get a new number for her foundation. During the same, she met a similar fate and this time the staff asked or rather suggested her to get the sim card in the name of another person, her husband or a guardian. These may be just a few words but they left a deep mark. A mark that pierced the dignity.
“It was very exhausting emotionally. Aaj mai challis saal ki hoon, do you think mujhe ke guardian ki zaroorat hun ek sim card lene ke liye. Ye bahut hurtful statement tha. It is not fair. I have all the IDs and just because mai ek eye blink nahi kar pati aap aisa suggestion de rhe ho, ” she said.
Further speaking about how other survivors just have made peace with the fact that they just can’t avail general services like this, Pragya said, ” I felt hopeless, shop ke bahar mujhe laga ki mai rodungi, I will collapse. I felt so helpless.”
Despite the everyday hustle and hassle of just being a citizen, Pragya’s resilience, and fortitude is commendable. Gathering her experiences and knowledge today she has impacted so many lives. A true harbinger of inspiration, courage and never say die attitude has made Pragya who she is.
It is only because of women like Pragya that the beacon of hope continues to light up and we need more like her everyday. With confidence up her sleep and head held high, Pragya wakes up for a better tomorrow, everyday.
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