Eleven years ago, an acid attack left Bindabasini Kansakar from Hetauda in shock and silence. Today, she has transformed that unbearable pain into energy, becoming a strong voice for burn victims. The cry for justice, once heard on the streets, now resonates from the rostrum of the Parliament.
Elected as a Member of Parliament from Rastriya Swatantra Party (RSP), Kansakar had to focus on her own treatment before channeling her pain into activism. Raising public awareness was still a long road ahead.
The attack that changed everything
On April 22, 2013, Kansakar was sitting in her shop when she was attacked with acid. After a difficult recovery, she returned to college, but life was never the same. Many friends hesitated to talk to her. One even messaged her, saying, “I’m afraid to speak to you directly.”
When she asked why, he responded, “A man attacked you with acid. You must hate all men now.”
Her reply was firm: “Yes, a man did this to me. But my father and brothers are also men. I don’t judge all men by the actions of one.”
Over time, her friends opened up, but her journey was not easy. As she tried to reintegrate into society, she became increasingly aware of other acid attacks happening around Nepal.
A voice in the movement
Two years after Kansakar’s attack, in February 2015, another case in Kathmandu’s Basantapur shocked the nation when Sangita Magar and Seema Basnet were attacked with acid. Kansakar, still undergoing treatment, joined protests—her face covered in bandages and a cap.
“I spoke for just a minute or two at the Basantapur protest,” she recalls. “I don’t remember what I said, but I do remember struggling to speak, overwhelmed by emotions at the sight of the massive crowd.”
During the demonstrations, Kansakar witnessed an impoverished man contribute to a donation box. “That moment made me realise that humanity still exists in our society, but why wasn’t the government seeing our pain?” she wondered. This question fueled her determination to continue the fight.
The attacks did not stop. More cases followed, including the acid attacks on Samjhana and Sushmita Das in Chandranigahpur in 2018 and Muskan Khatun in Birgunj in 2019. Kansakar remained at the forefront of these protests, demanding justice and stricter laws.
From activist to lawmaker
“Why do people commit such horrific crimes?” she often asked herself. “If I remain silent, many more will suffer like I did.”
Her activism eventually led to a meeting with then-Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli in 2020, where she urged the government to implement stricter laws against acid attacks.
Before entering politics, Kansakar had little faith in the system. “Before joining politics, my life felt stagnant. I worked in a bank for over two years, then resigned,” she says. “I never planned to be an MP. I only wanted the government to take action for burn victims.”
Achievements and the fight ahead
Recently, the government decided to expand burn treatment centers across all seven provinces. Until now, only Kathmandu had a dedicated burn hospital in Kirtipur, along with limited treatment facilities at Bir Hospital, Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, and Sushma Koirala Memorial Hospital.
On October 18, 2024, the Cabinet decided to establish burn treatment centers at BP Koirala Institute of Health Sciences in Koshi, Narayani Hospital in Madhesh, Pokhara Health Science Institute in Gandaki, Bheri Hospital in Lumbini, Karnali Hospital in Karnali, and Seti Provincial Hospital in Sudurpaschim. The government also pledged free treatment for financially disadvantaged patients.
Kansakar considers this a major victory. “Ensuring burn victims receive free treatment across Nepal is a huge achievement,” she says. However, she does not take sole credit. “This should have happened long ago, but I kept pressuring the government.”
Since becoming an MP, she has directly lobbied Prime Ministers Pushpa Kamal Dahal and KP Sharma Oli, as well as Health Ministers Padam Giri and Pradeep Paudel.
Now, Kansakar is working on a bill dedicated to burn victims. On August 15, 2024, she introduced the “Burn Injury Prevention and Punishment Bill” in Parliament, aiming to establish dedicated burn treatment centers nationwide and provide legal protection for victims.
“‘Think Safety, Do Safety’ should not just be a slogan—it must become policy,” she asserts. “Burn injuries can happen to anyone, anytime. We need a law to address this.”
Each year, Nepal records 60,000–65,000 burn cases caused by fires, hot oil, electricity, acid, boiling water, or hot milk. Yet, the government has not prioritised a dedicated burn hospital.
Kansakar continues to push for the bill in Parliament, arguing that ministerial assurances and temporary relief are not enough—systematic legal reforms are necessary.
The personal struggle for justice
Despite being a lawmaker, Kansakar herself had to fight for compensation. Though her attacker, Dilip Raj Keshari, was arrested in 2019—six years after the attack—her legal battle continued.
Makwapur District Court ordered Keshari to pay Kansakar’s medical expenses, amounting to over Rs 11.4 million ($85,000). If he could not pay, the government was to cover the amount. However, this ruling was never enforced.
Even after becoming an MP, Kansakar had to file a complaint with a parliamentary committee. It was only after extensive lobbying that she finally received compensation.
“If a lawmaker has to fight this hard for justice, what about ordinary citizens?” she asks.
This question drives her mission to pass a comprehensive burn law. “I suffered, but I fight so that others won’t have to endure what I did,” she says.
Kansakar has learned that change does not come easily. “Rights are never given; they must be fought for,” she reflects. Her parliamentary experience has also reinforced one crucial lesson: Victims must actively engage with the system to be heard.
Today, many see Kansakar as an influential figure. But behind her strong presence is a story of relentless struggle.
How does she keep going? She credits her family, friends, and self-confidence. “Their support gave me the strength to continue,” she says.
