BENGALURU: A burning lantern was thrown at her face nearly 18 years ago by her husband. Anita Parker Mary’s clothes caught fire and the flames engulfed the upper part of her body. Sustaining over 50% burns, she survived, battling odds and stigma.Last week, the 40-year-old opened her provisions shop Nariloka (women’s world) near Lingarajapuram, east Bengaluru, with help of an NGO. Pushed into penury after her husband’s death three months ago, Anita started a new life to earn money and self-respect.The Guild of Women Achievers, a private organisation, assisted Anita in setting up the shop. The guild learnt about her from Pragya Singh, an acid-attack survivor who has been helping many like Anita. “There was good response from many donors who came forward to support her cause,” said Chaya Srivatsa, founder, Guild of Women Achievers.“She has a lot of potential but it is trapped within because of her appearance. We thought of providing her something through which she can earn her livelihood and lead a life of dignity,” said Pragya.Anita’s father was an Anglo-Indian, hence English was the only spoken language at her home in Tiruchi. “My mother left us when we were young and I had to stop going to school to look after my young brothers. My husband was an electrician, over 20 years older than me. He was short-tempered,” she recalled.One day, her husband lost his temper on seeing Anita standing outside the house and watching a fight. “He threw a lamp on my face and my clothes caught fire. I was immediately hospitalised and survived. But the scars still remain. Doctors suggested plastic surgery but we couldn’t afford it. For many years, I could not turn as my neck was burnt,” she added.She worked as a cook in houses after the incident. “Once a guest who had come to the house where I worked asked my employer: ‘Why have you hired her? She is so ugly.’ I have faced discrimination everywhere because of my looks. My husband, however, repented for what he did,” Anita said.Prior to the fire accident, she worked as a travel guide as she spoke English. “I would travel with foreigners to show them Chennai, Pune, Mumbai and Delhi as a guide,” says Anita.Anita’s son recently started working with a private firm; her daughter has completed PU and wants to study BCom. But Anita failed to get a bank loan for her daughter’s education. “I hope chief minister HD Kumaraswamy understands the woes people like me. What I need is not mercy but a loan for my daughter’s education,” she said.

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