Shah Rukh Khan was honoured by the World Economic Forum for his work alongside acid attack survivors in Davos, Switzerland. Among the recipients of the Crystal Award 2018 were Hollywood actor Cate Blanchett and legendary musician Elton John. The Jab Harry Met Sejal actor was his usual witty, self-deprecating self while accepting the honour.
Honoured to receive the @wef’s 24th Crystal Award, together with @eltonofficial and Cate Blanchett. My fan moment!!
Watch the #crystalawards via https://t.co/rILPgHRgtL at the #wef18 meeting in Davos.
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 22, 2018
He started his speech by stating how actors seem to be obsessed by the concept of ‘external beauty’ no matter how much they might deny it, and how that belief was irrevocably challenged when he met a few acid attack survivors. The actor started Meer Foundation, an NGO to look into women-related issues including acid attacks.
“Disfiguring a woman’s face by throwing acid on her face is in my opinion, one of the basest, crudest acts of subjugation possible,” the actor said.
He even concluded the speech by saying when people are surrounded by power, they think things get in the way of progress. “It’s actually the power that is getting in the way. It gets in the way of universal access to resources because it seeks to control and enclose them. We, the powerful, need to get out of the way,” the actor said.
Source: PTI
According to a 2014 report, there were 225 cases reported in all of India out of which only 12 led to conviction. Between 2012 and 2014, the cases reported saw more than a 100% jump after only 101 cases were reported in 2012. Which doesn’t necessarily mean that throwing acid is a recent phenomenon, in a society like India’s there’s additional stigma attached to victim.
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Shah Rukh Khan’s Meer Foundation not only helps the victims by partnering up with Nanavati Hospital and the National Burns Unit, but it also helps them step start from scratch with the help of its allies in ASFI (Acid Survivor Foundation of India) and ASTI (Acid Survivors Trust International) and Make A Wish Foundation.
Switzerland main aake yeh na kiya toh kya kiya…?! Loving being at the Davos, now to get ready for the Crystal Award Ceremony. #DavosDiaries pic.twitter.com/c95SwSR0v2
— Shah Rukh Khan (@iamsrk) January 22, 2018
The actor claimed to have had a ‘fanboy moment’ when he met his fellow recipients, saying he immediately asked for a selfie with Cate Blanchett. He even put up a picture of himself doing his signature Bollywood pose.
