Defying odds, Resham Fatma becomes first Indian acid attack survivor to win Chevening Scholarship

New Delhi: Demonstrating extraordinary fortitude, 29-year-old Resham Fatma has scripted history by becoming the first acid attack survivor from India to win the prestigious Chevening Scholarship, fully funded by the UK Government. The Ranchi native will soon head to the London School of Economics (LSE) to pursue an MSc in Gender, Development and Globalisation.

Reflecting on her landmark achievement, Resham shared her journey in her own words, "I kept this dream to myself for a long time. Today, I can finally say it out loud.
 

“I am deeply honoured to be selected as a Chevening Scholar 2026, fully funded by the UK Government, to pursue my MSc at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE).

“Ten years ago, after the acid attack, there were countless moments when giving up felt easier than moving forward. But every time life knocked me down, I chose to stand up again.

“From Jamia Millia Islamia to Jawaharlal Nehru University, and now to LSE, this journey belongs to everyone who believed that circumstances do not define your future.

“I am the first acid attack survivor from India to receive the Chevening Scholarship. I carry this opportunity not just for myself, but for every girl who has ever been told that her dreams are too big.

“This is not the destination. It's the beginning of an even bigger purpose.

Thank you to everyone who stood by me. London, I'll see you soon."

Surviving a horrific ordeal

Resham’s life took a tragic turn in February 2014, when she was a 17-year-old Class 11 student living in Lucknow. A relative two decades her senior, whose marriage proposal had been rejected by her family, offered her a lift home from her tuition classes. Instead, he drove towards the highway and threw a bottle of acid over her head, before threatening her with a knife.

Showing incredible presence of mind and courage, Resham managed to break free from her attacker and run for help. A passing autorickshaw driver stopped to cover her and rush her toward safety. While a crowd gathered at a nearby police station without stepping forward, a compassionate elderly man eventually accompanied her to the hospital.

Despite enduring excruciating surgeries and a long, painful recovery, Resham refused to let her education fall behind, clearing her Class 12 board examinations with an impressive 87% in the science stream.

Turning adversity into purpose

Her academic and civic milestones grew steadily in the years that followed. In 2015, she was awarded the Bharat Award, the nation's highest bravery award for children, during the Republic Day parade. She earned her BSc Physics from Jamia Millia Islamia in 2018 before pursuing a master's degree in Politics and International Relations at Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU).

Driven by a resolve to be seen for her abilities rather than viewed with pity, Resham launched the Ebrah Foundation in 2023. The initiative works to mentor young Muslim women, guiding them toward higher education, career paths and financial independence. Even as she prepares for her move to London, the foundation plans to expand its grassroots impact by rolling out spoken English courses for young girls back home.

While the attacker died by suicide in prison in 2015 while awaiting trial, Resham has consistently chosen to channel her energy into personal success and social impact. Carrying her scars not as limitations but as reminders of survival, her journey to LSE stands as a powerful testament to the resilience of the human spirit.