Priya, Rape Survivor-Comic Hero, Is Back to Fight Acid Attacks

She is back to free acid attack survivors from fear in her new comic ‘Priya’s Mirror.’

(Photo: Excerpt from ‘Priya’s Mirror’/used with permission)

Created by Ram Devineni and Dan Goldman, Priya is a rape survivor turned comic ‘superhero’ who speaks out against sexual violence in her first comic Priya’s Shakti.

Now, she is back to free acid attack survivors from fear and social stigma in her new comic Priya’s Mirror, which has been co-authored by Paromita Vohra and Ram Devineni. In her latest outing, she fights the tyranny of the demon king ‘Ahankar’ with her weapon ‘mirror of love’, encouraging acid attack survivors to look beyond their scars.

‘Priya’s Mirror’ traces the story of Anjali, an acid attack survivor who is trapped in a home run by Ahankar, the demon king, who prevents them from leaving. For Priya, the challenge is to encourage acid attack survivors to overcome fear and move past the stigma of the acid attack.

The moment when Anjali, one of the characters in the comic, was attacked with acid. (Photo: Excerpt from ‘Priya’s Mirror’)

Speaking to The Quint, the comic’s creator Ram Devineni outlined the reasons for naming the villain of the comic ‘Ahankar’, which literally translates into ego, male or female.

We were inspired by many superhero comic books like Wonder Woman and Superman. A name is a powerful symbol and often in India is a mantra. Priya is trying to combat and overcome fear. Fear is at the core of the problem for both survivors and societal perceptions of them. Ahankar is ego and how often people lose their way.  

Ram Devineni, Co-creator, Priya’s Mirror

For acid attack survivors in the comic, a major challenge is overcoming fear of societal perceptions. (Photo: Excerpt from ‘Priya’s Mirror’)

The weapon which Priya uses in the comic is the ‘Mirror of Love’, encouraging acid attack survivors to look at their reflection. She believes doing so would enable them to look at themselves as not just acid attack survivors, but as women with skills and dreams that are not defined by their attack. Talking about the unusual weapon which Priya uses, Ram Devineni said,

The mirror allows you to see beyond what is reflected. It is inner truth. There is a good line in the comic book, which describes it perfectly. Priya says, “Why should we hide our wounds? And why should we hide because of our wounds, sisters! Someone reduced you to only your face. But you are other things too. Look into this mirror and you will see.”  

Ram Devineni, Co-creator, Priya’s Mirror

The weapon which Priya uses in the comic is the ‘Mirror of Love’ encouraging acid attack survivors to look at their reflection. (Photo: Excerpt from ‘Priya’s Mirror’)

But Ahankar is not a typical villain, defined in shades of black and white. The co-author of Priya’s Mirror, Paromita Vohra said,

Without revealing too much of the story, Ahankar was once a human who almost died, and had the choice to be a better person. But the anger in him was reflected and directed into becoming a demon. 

Paromita Vohra, Co-author, Priya’s Mirror

(Photo: Excerpt from ‘Priya’s Mirror’)