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{{short description|Indian acid attack survivor (born 1990)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2016}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Laxmi Agarwal
| image = Laxmi Agarwal 2014 (cropped).jpg
| caption = Agarwal in Washington receiving an award, 2014
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1990|6|1|df=y}}
| birth_place =
| organization =
| known_for = Acid attack survivor
| spouse =
| children = 1
}}
'''Laxmi Agarwal ''' (born 1 June 1990) is an Indian [[acid attack]] survivor, a campaigner for rights of acid attack victims, and a TV host. In 2019, she received with the International Women Empowerment Award from the [[Ministry of Women and Child Development]], the [[Government of India]], and [[UNICEF]] for her campaign of ''Stop Acid Sale''. In 2014, she received the [[International Women of Courage Award]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Michelle Obama honours acid attack victim Laxmi |url=http://www.firstpost.com/world/michelle-obama-honours-acid-attack-victim-laxmi-1420069.html |work=Firstpost |date=5 March 2014}}</ref>

== The attack ==
In 2005, when Agarwal was 15, a 32-year-old family friend proposed marriage to her.<ref name="NewslaundryChhapaak">{{cite news |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/09/news18-hindi-chhapaak-fake-news-deepika-padukone |archive-date=22 January 2020 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200122172200/https://www.newslaundry.com/2020/01/09/news18-hindi-chhapaak-fake-news-deepika-padukone |date=9 January 2025 |access-date=25 September 2025 |title=News18 Hindi claims Chhapaak was 'redubbed' to change acid attacker's name from Hindu to Muslim. They're wrong |publisher=[[Newslaundry]] |language=en-IN }}</ref><ref name="AltNewsChhapaak">{{cite news |last=Chaudhuri |first=Pooja |date=9 January 2020 |access-date=25 September 2025 |url=https://www.altnews.in/does-chhapaak-portray-acid-attack-convict-as-a-hindu-named-rajesh-no-false-claim/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=newpost |url-status=live |title=Does 'Chhapaak' portray acid attack convict as a Hindu named 'Rajesh'? No, false claim |publisher=[[Alt News]] |quote=‘Chhapaak’ is Padukone’s upcoming film inspired by the life of acid attack survivor Laxmi Aggarwal who was attacked by 32-year-old Naeem Khan in 2005. |archive-date=23 February 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200223184322/https://www.altnews.in/does-chhapaak-portray-acid-attack-convict-as-a-hindu-named-rajesh-no-false-claim/?utm_source=website&utm_medium=social-media&utm_campaign=newpost }}</ref><ref name=":0">{{cite news |date=19 February 2020 |title=Deepika Padukone dedicates first award for Chhapaak to Laxmi Agarwal for showing 'what beauty truly means' |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/bollywood/deepika-padukone-dedicates-first-award-for-chhapaak-to-laxmi-agarwal-for-showing-what-beauty-truly-means/story-SFTucCxYQcwuiGp4oumnJM.html |access-date=14 September 2021 |work=Hindustan Times |language=en}}</ref> Ten months later, Agrawal was attacked with acid by him and his associate.<ref name="AltNewsChhapaak" />

== Public interest litigation ==
In 2006, Agarwal filed a [[Public interest litigation in India|public interest litigation]] (PIL) in the [[Supreme Court of India]] seeking compensation and a total ban on the sale of acid across the country.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Agarwal |first=Laxmi |date=2020-01-10 |title=Acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal: "My attacker thought he would leave me trapped in my house" |url=https://www.vogue.in/wellness/content/acid-attack-survivor-laxmi-agarwal-story-interview-deepika-padukone-chhapaak |access-date=2025-10-01 |website=Vogue India |language=en-IN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=National Commission for Women |title=Rights, Laws, and Hope for Acid Attack Survivors |url=https://cdn.ncw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NCW-Acid-attack_Super_Final_Print_compressed.pdf |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20251110164718/https://cdn.ncw.gov.in/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/NCW-Acid-attack_Super_Final_Print_compressed.pdf |archive-date=2025-11-10}}</ref>

In July 2013, the Supreme Court responded to pleas, including the dismissal of Agarwal, by issuing guidelines to restrict the sale of acid.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Singh |first=Soibam Rocky |date=2023-08-13 |title=Survivors in dismay as Delhi High Court refused to ban acid sale |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/survivors-disappointed-as-hc-dismisses-plea-seeking-blanket-ban-on-acid-sale/article67191194.ece |access-date=2025-10-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

The court passed an order stating that acid could not be sold openly or without an ID proof. The court also declared a Rs 3 [[lakh]] compensation for future and past victims.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2013-07-18 |title=India Supreme Court orders curb on sales of acid |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-23358264 |access-date=2025-10-01 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Singh |first=Mohit |date=2013-07-18 |title=Laxmi vs. Union of India – (2014) 4 SCC 427 – (Acid attack compensation order) - One Law Street |url=https://onelawstreet.com/laxmi-vs-union-of-india-2014-4-scc-427-acid-attack-compensation-order/ |access-date=2025-10-01 |language=en-GB}}</ref>

== Personal life==
Laxmi Agarwal was in a live-in relationship with social activist Alok Dixit, and the couple has separated in 2015. They have a daughter.{{Citation needed|date=September 2025}}

== In popular culture==
She starred in the 2014 short documentary ''Newborns'' directed by [[Megha Ramaswamy]] as herself.<ref>{{cite web |title=Newborns: A Gaze Within |url=https://indiaindependentfilms.com/2017/03/14/interview-newborns-megha-ramaswamy-gaze-within/ |website=India Independent Films |access-date=14 September 2021 |date=14 March 2017 |archive-date=14 September 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210914110914/https://indiaindependentfilms.com/2017/03/14/interview-newborns-megha-ramaswamy-gaze-within/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>

''[[Chhapaak]]'' (2020), a Hindi-language drama film inspired by Agarwal's life story. The central character, Malti, is modeled on Agarwal, though the narrative is a dramatised account rather than a direct biopic. Prior to the film's release, Agarwal's lawyer Aparna Bhat filed a case claiming that her contributions in Agarwal's legal battle and activism were not acknowledged. In January 2020, the Delhi High Court directed the filmmakers to give her due credit, after which her name was added to the film's credits.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2020-01-27 |title=Gave credit to lawyer in Indian release of 'Chhapaak' |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/gave-credit-to-lawyer-in-indian-release-of-chhapaak-fox-star-to-hc/articleshow/73666796.cms |access-date=2025-10-01 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=IANS |date=2020-01-09 |title='Chhapaak' storm: Laxmi Agarwal's lawyer plans to sue makers of Deepika Padukone film |url=https://www.thehindu.com/entertainment/movies/chhapaak-storm-laxmi-agarwals-lawyer-plans-to-sue-makers-of-deepika-padukone-film/article30521018.ece |access-date=2025-10-01 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{International Women of Courage Awards}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Agarwal, Laxmi}}
[[Category:1990 births]]
[[Category:Acid attack victims]]
[[Category:Indian victims of crime]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:People from New Delhi]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian poets]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian writers]]
[[Category:Poets from Delhi]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian journalists]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women journalists]]
[[Category:Women writers from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian women television journalists]]
[[Category:Indian television journalists]]
[[Category:Journalists from Delhi]]
[[Category:Activists from Delhi]]
[[Category:Indian women's rights activists]]
[[Category:Indian women human rights activists]]
[[Category:Recipients of the International Women of Courage Award]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian women poets]]

Laxmi Agarwal - Revision history

Brotherhoodbo at 12:02, 23 March 2026