“The crime rate in Goa is not much, but when I come to Goa, I hate to see how people destroy the place they die to visit,” said Laxmi Agarwal, an acid attack survivor, who was in Goa over the weekend at the Energy Queens Retreat Expansion hosted by life coach, Ritu Agarwal, at a resort in Cavelossim.
Laxmi and Ritu, who have simple upbringings, decided to turn the tables and break the glass ceiling one step at a time. Both have broken stereotypes to carve a niche for themselves.
A WILL TO DO MORE
Ritu, who has been instrumental in changing the lives of many, said, “I was a typical homemaker, people pleaser. I wanted to prove myself to my parents whose goal was to get me married to a good man. I had goals and throughout my life and wanted to prove that I was good. This internal struggle between my ambitions and parents' expectations took a toll on my well-being, manifesting in health problems like asthma attacks.”
Life changed when Ritu had an asthma attack when she was pregnant with her son. “That was the day I decided I want to change my life. I didn’t want my kids to see their mother miserable. I wanted to do something with my life. So, I studied MA psychology and started giving life coaching and starting with just 10 people, I have coached 3,000 people to date,” she revealed.
I had goals and throughout my life I wanted to prove that I was good. This internal struggle between my ambitions and parents' expectations took a toll on my well-being, manifesting in health problems like asthma attacksRitu Agarwal, life coach
SHARING HELPS PAIN
Life changed for Laxmi too when she politely rejected a marriage proposal, but had to face an acid attack. “As a survivor, when I talk about my pain, my story, it has impact on people. People get motivated when they learn what I have gone through. Many times people don’t share their stories with others, be it a rape survivor, or acid attack survivor, or be it domestic violence survivor,” said Laxmi, who loves Goa, but rarely gets the time to visit.
Post-acid attack, Laxmi's struggles were manifold, which are well-portrayed in director Meghna Gulzar’s film, Chhapaak (2020), starring Deepika Padukone. The film is about challenges Laxmi faced and her incredible strength and resilience.
Reflecting deeply, Laxmi spoke about how there is a need for change in societal mindset. “There needs to be cleanliness of the mindset first, so that we don’t create criminals in our society," she said.
Drawing from the film Mardaani, she pointed out that rehabilitation should not only focus on victims but also explore the psychology of offenders and the societal changes needed. “Cleaning the country goes beyond removing physical garbage; we must also address the 'acid' in people's minds,” she observed.
Cleaning the country goes beyond removing physical garbage; we must also address the 'acid' in people's mindsLaxmi Agarwal, acid attack survivor
GOA FOR FUN
For Ritu, Goa is the place where she can rest. “When I come to Goa, it’s all about relaxing. I like silence, so it’s usually two days of beach time, chill, no work and no agenda. When I’m with the kids, we love to go to the beach and we enjoy the water sports here. But when I’m with my husband – we usually chill by the pool and connect,” smiled Ritu.
But Laxmi, who always squeezes some me-time on her visits, loves the vibe at the Three Kings Church, in Arrossim. “I read a lot about the church on the internet that had so much negativity, but I personally love the place and the surroundings,” she mentioned.
Talking about Goa, she said, “I feel sad that people who visit Goa for its beauty, dirty the place leaving the same beauty in tatters. The State has received bad reputation because of people who come from other places.”
Ritu and Laxmi both hold a deep affection for Goa, with each interpreting it based on their own unique experiences. To them, Goa is more than just a place to visit; it's a place that inspires a collective duty to promote respect, awareness, and a stronger bond with this popular tourist haven.