Restoring Dignity and Rebuilding Lives: GPF India and ASWWF Unite for Acid Attack Survivors

On August 20, 2025, the India International Centre, New Delhi, became a stage for hope, resilience, and collective responsibility as the Global Peace Foundation India (GPF India) and the Acid Survivors & Women Welfare Foundation (ASWWF) formalized their collaboration through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding. The gathering brought together leaders, social activists, and changemakers united by a shared resolve to restore dignity, rebuild lives, and create a society rooted in values. 

The program began with Dr. Rahul Varma, who set the tone by affirming, “We want to rebuild their lives.” He shared the inspiring example of his own colleague , an acid attack survivor, whose courage and determination reflected the possibility of transformation. Calling upon the audience to become ambassadors of the cause, he emphasized that the time for pilot projects was over and that the moment had come to scale up efforts into a nationwide movement. His words underscored the urgent need for holistic rehabilitation—physical, psychological, and financial—so that survivors can reclaim their place in mainstream society. 

Introducing GPF India, Dr. Markandey Rai spoke about the organization’s vision grounded in the timeless Indian principle of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam—the world is one family. Reflecting on the G20 report, he posed the poignant question: “What happened to that report?” reminding civil society of its responsibility to hold institutions accountable for the promises they make. He stressed that progress cannot come through competition but only through collaboration, echoing the message, “Work together, not compete.”  

The dialogue during the event recognized the grim reality that India has the highest number of acid attack survivors in the world. Speakers underlined that the challenge is not only about treating scars but about addressing root causes. They spoke of the need to create awareness, to change social attitudes, to press for stricter regulation on the sale of acid, and to support survivors holistically with dignity and empathy. The partnership between GPF India and ASWWF was seen as unique because it moves beyond fragmented aid, envisioning a collaborative, peace-centered model that combines medical help, legal assistance, livelihood opportunities, leadership development, and social reintegration. 

The gathering was enriched by voices from different walks of life who offered wisdom and inspiration. The World Confluence of Humanity, Power and Spirituality was introduced with its focus on spiritual intelligence and the forthcoming celebration of the world’s first Values Day on 26–27 December. Dr. Rai defined spirituality simply as “Give love and service,” while Mr. Siddharth presented Brahmbodhini, a development model based on the Bhagavad Gita. Rtd IAS Officer Jyoti Kalash spoke of his shift to social service, and Commander Jaitly, with his IIT Kharagpur and Navy background, emphasized youth empowerment. Madhu Khanna urged the need to decolonize knowledge, culture, and economy, while Vimal Wakhlu spoke about public policy initiatives and his upcoming “Back to Roots” webinar. Sushma Aggarwal, with decades of experience in tribal welfare, shared grassroots insights, and P. R. Trivedi highlighted the importance of attitudinal and behavioral change. Ms. Prachi Kaushik of Udyami Social Foundation spoke on empowering women through entrepreneurship, destigmatizing menstruation, and creating dignified employment in the sanitation economy, while Manoj Kumar stressed the importance of the Guru–Shishya Parampara, technology and education for underprivileged youth, and environmental initiatives such as plantations. 

The highlight of the evening was the signing of the MoU between GPF India and ASWWF, symbolizing the beginning of a transformative partnership. To mark the moment, Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam and IPPA books were gifted to Dr. Rahul Varma has tokens of shared vision and commitment. In his closing remarks, Dr. Rai extended gratitude to Dr. Hari Prasad Kanoria for his leadership and assured that GPF India would continue to support the annual World Confluence of Humanity, Power and Spirituality in December. 

The event concluded with a powerful call to action: to turn this initiative into a movement that restores dignity, reduces stigma, and rebuilds lives while making India a value-based society. The principle, “एकं सद्विप्रा बहुधा वदन्ति”—Truth is one, the wise express it in many ways—was invoked as the guiding light of this collaboration. Survivors were not portrayed as passive recipients of aid but as partners, leaders, and peacebuilders in their own right. Together, the voices present affirmed that this effort goes beyond rehabilitation—it is a movement of healing through peace, and it calls on society at large to walk hand in hand with those who have endured unimaginable suffering yet embody the courage to inspire lasting change.