Kangana Ranaut: Hanging the culprit is not enough, the mindset of our society must change

While acid attack victim Reshma Qureshi took the fashion world by storm when she walked the ramp in New York this week, back in India, a special court sentenced the death penalty to Preeti Rathi's attacker, reigniting the issue of such rampant incidents in the country. Reshma and Bollywood actress, Kangana Ranaut's sister, Rangoli, who is also a survivor, share their stories...
Rangoli Chandel: Acid attackers must get death penalty
Rangoli was a victim of a brutal acid attack in 2006. She fought back after almost losing an eye and ear, but she still hasn't forgotten the trauma. Today, she's come into her own and works closely with her star sister. But her battle for survival has been horrific. Though in her case, she's had a great support system in Kangana, her mom and Ajay Chandel, the man who stood by her. Rangoli hails the death penalty, which was announced recently for Ankur Panwar in the Preeti Rathi acid attack case, as a positive development, but doubts if things will change till there are serious checks on the storage and availability of acid.
Take action against those who store acid
Rangoli still remembers the trauma of the days and months after the attack. 'I almost lost one eye; my windpipe and food pipe were shrinking. I don't remember how many surgeries I went through. Whenever my mother saw me, she would faint. My father couldn't bear to look at me and took to drinking. It's not just the survivor who suffers, but the entire family. I was engaged to an Air Force officer, but once he saw me at the hospital, he never came back. For the first couple of months, I couldn't see myself in the mirror. I'm lucky to have a sister like Kangana, who got me the best treatment possible then,' she remembers.
This is why she hails the verdict in the Preeti Rathi case as landmark. 'With due respect to the honourable judge, this (the death penalty) is the correct verdict. Whoever commits this crime should get the same punishment. No bail, no life term, as they will get out after a few years. But then, acid is still available in the market. The authorities should crack down on people who store and sell it,' she stresses.
My husband didn't make me feel different
Through that difficult phase, Rangoli found support from the man she married. 'My husband, Ajay, whom I knew from my school days, met me after I came out of the hospital. He didn't make me feel different. That also helped me regain confidence. Yoga and meditation helped considerably. Thankfully, my doctor was supportive too, as were Kangana and my mom. Usually, girls get paranoid about just a pimple. For me, this was more than just mental trauma and the pain. You feel numb, you don't know your future,' she recalls.
It's known that Kangana too was threatened by the attacker and had to seek police security. 'This was at a time when she was not a big star. Yet, she diverted her focus to me and my recovery. She spent her earnings on my treatment. The man who attacked me got a seven-year sentence. We were struggling with our lives; we didn't know kya hoga, kaise hoga' But you have to come out of it. You can't be in that mourning zone forever,' says Rangoli.
Reshma Qureshi: I want people to treat us as normal human beings
Under the ramp's arc lights, with flashbulbs popping all around her, the scars showed, alright. But Reshma Qureshi did not flinch. The acid attack survivor from UP ' her father plies a taxi on Mumbai's roads ' held her head high and walked down the ramp at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW) on Thursday. Just hours after charming the world with her courage and never-say-die spirit, the 19-year-old spoke to us about the fight ahead.
New symbol of feminism?
What makes her most happy is that women from all walks of life came out to support her after her brother-in-law burnt her face with acid two years back. 'I'm thankful that so many women have given me their unconditional support. I've gained a lot of confidence,' she says. Tell her that she is the new face of feminism, and pat comes the reply, 'I don't know about that, but yes, I'm extremely happy and proud. Being greeted and congratulated by so many glamorous people has really given me a high.'
Marriage is Not on her mind
Despite the setbacks, Reshma is clear about what she wants from life. 'I first want to pursue my graduation, take up a job and help girls who have suffered even more than me. I'm getting so much of love and support, but they have none. I want people to treat us (survivors) as normal human beings and for that, we need to change the definition of beauty in India. Bas yahi mera dream hai,' she shares. And marriage? 'No! I will never get married!' she says in a flash.
Family, her pillar of strength
Through all her troubles, Reshma's family has been a pillar of strength. 'I'm the youngest sibling. I have two older sisters and two brothers, who dote on me. They are proud of my will power and the way I have fought for myself. That means the world to me,' says the teenager.
When Sunny Leone wept
What was it like to walk the ramp with Sunny Leone? 'I walked before her and she came over to meet me backstage. She hugged me and started weeping. I was really touched; she is a wonderful and warm human being.'
'It's time we stopped treating acid attack survivors like aliens. What they've faced is terrible, but they have to be made a part of the society. I'm surprised that nobody in a wheelchair is seen dining in a restaurant in India, whereas it is common in the West. We need to change our mindset and accept people as they are.' (Archana Kochhar is the designer for whom Reshma walked the ramp in New York).
Kangana Ranaut: Uphold real men as heroes, not bullies
Kangana Ranaut revisits the ordeal her sister Rangoli went through and shares her views on the landmark judgement. 'I feel that this judgement is a good sign and an example for everyone who would even think of a heinous act like this. But I still think that this is not the answer, and hanging people is not enough. Our society is responsible for cultivating such a mindset. For men, rejection is a very big deal. Also, boys in our country need to be taught to respect women from the beginning. The learning and upbringing begins at home. We need to uphold real men with right values, and not cowards, as role models for society. Men like my brother-in-law (Ajay Chandel, Rangoli's husband) are real men, and in my eyes, heroes. We shouldn't glorify men who bully or use other forms of mental abuse to push women to extremes like suicide. These bullies have to be called out,' she says.
At the time the unfortunate incident happened to Rangoli, Kangana had just completed her first film Gangster. On hearing the news she felt anger and pain, but she knew she had no time to waste and weep. She recalled, 'I was in the gym on the treadmill when I saw the news flash on television. I couldn't believe what I was watching. Rangoli was just 23 and in the university. She is a microbiologist and a topper. The man who attacked her had poured almost one litre of acid on her, it was ghastly and shocking. At that point in my career, I was struggling and going through a tough time in Mumbai, but at least I could afford treatment. There are so many women who can't afford to do this and lose hope. Right after this incident I insisted that Rangoli should come to Mumbai to get treated. My family was reluctant because back then, I didn't share a great relationship with them. But I insisted and brought her here. This tragedy didn't make Rangoli and me look good as we were judged for it. Like what happens with rape survivors, there is a lot of stigma attached to survivors of an acid attack. Forget the physical trauma, you can't imagine the mental scar it can leave on a girl. Some people told my father, 'Beti ko itna padhaoge toh aisa hi hoga.' While all this was happening, there was no time to cry or react. One day after six months, I buried my face in Rangoli's lap and cried. Fortunately, my brother-in-law came along and supported her like a rock. They knew each other since first grade and he always liked her. Rangoli has been happily married for four years now. But I know that not every story turns out this way and the pain and hurt is too deep to ever forget.'

Kangana-Jacqueline spotted at Mumbai airport