More than a decade after surviving an acid attack, 29-year-old Resham Fatma has become the first Indian acid attack survivor to receive the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, awarded by the UK government. She will pursue an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).
For Resham, the scholarship is more than an academic achievement.
“For me, it’s not just another degree. It is deeply personal. Everything I have lived through has brought me here,” she said.
Survived acid attack after rejecting marriage proposal
Born in Jamshedpur and raised partly in Lucknow, Resham was a Class 11 student when she was allegedly attacked with acid in February 2014 by her mother’s cousin after she rejected his marriage proposal.
Recalling the incident, she said she trusted him because he was a family member.
“He told me he would drop me home after my coaching class. I trusted him because he was family. Instead, he drove towards the highway and poured an entire bottle of acid over my head,” she said.
Despite suffering severe burns, Resham managed to escape and seek help. She underwent multiple surgeries over the following years but continued her education.
Turned tragedy into academic success
While recovering, Resham scored 87 percent in her Class 12 examinations in the science stream.
She later completed a BSc (Honours) in Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2018 before earning a Master’s degree in Politics and International Relations from Jawaharlal Nehru University.
In 2015, she was honoured with the Bharat Award, India’s highest national bravery award for children, for her courage following the attack.
Reflecting on the years after the incident, Resham said, “I didn’t want their pity. I wanted them to see me as someone capable.”
Working to empower young Muslim women
In 2023, while studying at JNU, Resham founded the Ebrah Foundation, an initiative that mentors young Muslim women in education, careers and financial independence.
She said the foundation’s work will continue even while she studies in London.
“Muslim women often stand at the margins of the margins, facing discrimination as women as well as members of a minority community. If girls become financially independent, they become more confident in making their own decisions,” she said.
‘I wanted him to see me succeed’
Resham married her husband, Asghar, in 2024, and credits him with encouraging her to apply for the Chevening Scholarship.
She also reflected on learning that the man accused of attacking her died by suicide while in jail awaiting trial.
“I didn’t want him to die. I wanted him to stay alive and see me succeed. I wanted him to see that he couldn’t destroy my life,” she said.
Although she has rebuilt her life, Resham says the trauma remains part of her journey.
“This is not a kind of trauma you leave behind. You carry it with you every single day. The only way is to accept it and move forward,” she said.
