“When Words Heal: Promila Devi Sutharsan Huidrom Speaks on the Scars That Inspire Strength”

A soulful voice for the voiceless — poetess, columnist, and philanthropist Promila Devi Sutharsan Huidrom lends her pen and heart to the cause of acid attack survivors.

Acid attacks are among the most brutal forms of gender-based violence, leaving behind physical scars that often overshadow the deep emotional and psychological trauma endured by survivors. According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), India reported over 150 acid attacks in 2022 alone, with countless unreported cases due to fear, stigma, or lack of support. The victims are predominantly women, with many attacks being driven by motives of rejection — be it refusal of a marriage proposal, denial of romantic advances, or familial disputes.

Despite strict laws like the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013, and regulatory steps to limit acid sale, the prevalence of such attacks remains alarming. Survivors not only endure lifelong physical pain and disfigurement but also battle social isolation, financial instability, and mental health challenges.

During this National Awareness Week for Acid Attack Survivors, we spotlight not just the tragedy, but the resilience, hope, and voices that fight back. Lending her voice to the cause is the multi-faceted and compassionate Promila Devi Sutharsan Huidrom — a woman whose poetry heals, columns provoke thought, and philanthropic heart reaches those most in need.

Through this exclusive feature, Promila shares her insights, empathy, and poetic soul on a subject that deserves urgent attention, awareness, and action. Her responses promise to inspire, challenge, and awaken the societal conscience.

1. As a columnist and poetess who deeply observes society, what drew you to speak on acid attack survivors during National Awareness Week?
   Answer: Acid attack is something really unethical, immoral, and illegal. This is not at all tolerable by anyone. There should be severe punishments for such attackers. It is not at all accepted.
2. In your opinion, what are the major causes or triggers behind acid attacks, especially against women?
   Answer: The root cause starts from home where women are considered weak. The society has to change. Have we seen women attacking a man with acid. Is this what men are waiting for, that then they stop as women feel to respond? The government policies have to change, Men doing such an act should be severely punished. This is not at all accepted. It is the upbringing of such men from they were little. The society  needs to change, the mother who raise such sons has to change. We cannot generalise but don’t we accept that the upbringing of such kids are at fault. It has to stop, and it has to be unaccpepted by the society first.
3. Mental health is a long journey for survivors. Could you share a short poem or lines you’ve penned to support them emotionally?
   Answer: 

उम्मीद

उम्मीद क्या अब जगाने को है ?
हार न माने अब – हराने को है –
तुम जितना तोड़ोगे – उनता जुड़ ही जायेंगे !!
हार ना मानांगे – चाहे करले जो – जुड़ ही जायेंगे ;
तेज़ाब से किए हमले आसान होंगे – तुम्हारे लिए –
अब इंतज़ार मुकम्मल – हिसाब के ही लिए ;
जब जवाब यूँ आयेगा – ठहरो तुम –
अब जान से क्या भागोगे – अब ही हम !!!

-प्रोमिला देवी सुदर्शन हुइद्रोम

4. Have you ever come across a personal story of an acid attack survivor that moved you deeply? If so, how did it impact you?
   Answer: I have been hearing about it from a very young age but haven’t come across personally to an attack survivor. The fact that there is a physical damage leading to mental scar to the deepest and suffering everyday with it is just unimaginable and unacceptable.
5. As a philanthropist, what are some grassroots or individual actions you believe can genuinely help survivors rebuild their lives?
   Answer: First and foremost, government should provide facility for free plastic surgery for such survivors. As today the Medicine is so advanced that with a reconstructive surgery a person can get back his/ her identity. Usually it costs a lot and that could be the reason that the acid attack survivors who cannot afford such service are suffering the most. 
6. What changes do you feel are still needed in society — legally, socially, or emotionally — to prevent acid attacks and support survivors better?
   Answer: There needs a lot of change. The government regulations has to change for such attackers and should be severely punished. Society has to empower women and women who are mothers, especially of such attackers- are the responsible source of such a progeny. It is high time that India has to understand the power of a women, the “NARI SHAKTI”. The word Shakti itself is women in Hinduism and we all know that but need to realise it again and again. Emotionally, the women who has gone through such an attack should not loose hope as science and technology is very advanced and via surgery one can get a new face. Once we loose hope, we loose life and life cannot be taken for granted as it is one of the most beautiful thing existing in nature. Life, life to live, even in small insects and organisms, survival, living. Let us not loose hope and stand even taller and fight for survival, fight for the right of life.
7. If you could leave one heartfelt message for acid attack survivors reading this, what would it be? (It can be a Hindi poem )
   Answer:

हौसले जो ;

ये उम्मीदों के तले,

तेज़ाब से किए हमले –

पर ना झुका सके हौसले को ;

और ना मिटा सके ये इरादे जो –

अब लिखेंगे इतिहास नया,

ना हार मानेंगे अभिप्राय जगा –

हर हमले पर जवाब यही के,

हार ना मानेंगे हिसाब यहीं के-

अब नया दौर आए जो –

सम्भले संभल जाएँगे –

ये इरादे कभी कामयाब ना हो पाएंगे ।

–प्रोमिला देवी सुदर्शन हुइद्रोम