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Laxmi Agrawal is an Indian acid attack survivor and activist. In 2005, when she was 15 years old, Laxmi was attacked with acid by a man who was stalking her in the New Delhi neighbourhood of Paschim Vihar.

After spending a month in the hospital, she was left with permanent physical and emotional scars.

The early life of Laxmi Agarwal

Laxmi Agarwal was born in New Delhi, India, on 1 June 1995 into a middle-class family. Her father, a rickshaw driver, was her source of inspiration.

 She was educated at a government school, where she was a bright student. She was also a good dancer and was part of a dance troupe that would perform at various functions.

At the age of 15, Laxmi was attacked with acid by three men, including her 32-year-old stalker. This horrific incident changed her life forever. 

She was rushed to the hospital, where she underwent numerous surgeries to repair the damage to her face and body. Despite the physical and emotional trauma, Laxmi stayed strong and determined to fight for justice.

In 2006, she filed a petition in the Supreme Court of India with the help of her lawyer, AP Singh, to regulate the sale and use of acid. This led to the Supreme Court ordering the central and state governments to control acid attacks in India. 

She also launched a campaign called ‘Stop Acid Attacks’ and became a symbol of courage and hope for many survivors of acid attacks.

Story of Laxmi Agarwal

Laxmi Agarwal is an Indian acid attack survivor, campaigner and television host. In 2005, when she was merely 15 years old, she was attacked with acid by three men, including a 32-year-old man called Naeem Khan, with whom she had refused to marry. She suffered severe burns on her face, chest, and hands. 

Her fight didn’t end with her medical treatment. She fought for justice for eight long years.

 Her case was finally concluded in 2013 when the three perpetrators were convicted and sentenced to 10 years in jail. 

Her story of resilience and courage has inspired people across the world. In 2014, she was invited to speak at the United Nations General Assembly and in 2015, she was conferred the International Women of Courage Award by the US State Department.

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Laxmi refused to be silenced by her experience, and she has since become a leading voice in the fight against acid attacks in India. 

She founded the Laxmi Foundation, a non-profit organisation that provides support to acid attack survivors, and she has lobbied for stricter laws to punish acid attackers. Laxmi has also been a prominent figure in the #Stop Acid Attacks campaign, as well as in the documentary film Acid Survivors: India’s Unheard Voices.

 In 2014, she was awarded the International Women of Courage Award by the US State Department.

She has since become an international symbol of resilience and courage. She has also been featured in a documentary called ‘Laxmi’s Courage’, which was released in 2016. 

In 2018, Laxmi was featured in the biographical drama, Chhapaak, which was based on her life and struggle. 

The movie was released on 10 January 2020, making Laxmi Agarwal an international icon. 

Laxmi Agarwal is a symbol of strength and resilience, and her story is an inspiration to millions of women and girls around the world.

Facts about Laxmi Agarwal

•  Laxmi Agarwal is an Indian campaigner and advocate of acid attack survivors.

•  She was attacked with acid at the age of 15 by a 32-year-old man who was rejected by her family.

•  She was born in New Delhi, India, in 1990.

• She is the founder of the NGO Chhanv Foundation, which works to help acid attack survivors in India.

•  She has been recognized for her work in India and abroad, including being featured in the BBC-100 Women list and TIME magazine’s 100 Most Influential People in 2018.

•  She has been awarded the International Women’s Courage Award from the US State Department and the International Women of Courage Award from the Government of India.

•  In 2019, she was selected for the feature film Chhapaak, which tells her story of an acid attack and recovery.

•  She is also the subject of the documentary film Laxmi: The Braveheart, which aired on the Discovery Channel in 2020.

The case also highlighted the need for stronger laws to protect women in India. 

Since then, she has been an advocate for women’s rights and has been invited to speak at conferences and events around the world.

 In 2019, she was awarded the Nari Shakti Puraskar, India’s highest civilian award for women, in recognition of her work to promote gender equality and combat violence against women.

Laxmi has been nominated for several awards, including the International Women of Courage Award by the US State Department in 2014. She was also part of the BBC’s list of 100 inspirational women of 2015. In 2018, she was awarded the US State Department’s International Women of Courage Award.

Conclusion

The case of Laxmi Agarwal is an inspiring story of resilience and courage in the face of adversity.

 She has been a powerful voice for the rights of women and girls around the world and has brought attention to the issue of acid attacks. 

Her fight for justice has resulted in the passing of the Acid Control and Acid Crime Prevention Act in 2013, which has made the Indian government take a stand against acid attacks. 

Despite the physical and emotional scars, she continues to fight for the rights of survivors and is an example of strength and courage. 

Laxmi’s story is a powerful reminder that no matter what obstacles we may face, with determination and strength, anything is possible.

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