Just a couple of weeks ago an Iranian man about to be blinded in hospital was forgiven by his victim – the young woman he’d blinded with acid. It begs the question - what would we do if we were in the same position.

This week South Asia Wired features the deeply moving story of Shirin Juwaley, who was only 24 when her husband threw acid on her face, chest and arms.

Thirteen years and 16 surgeries later, Shirin’s journey provides us with one inspirational thought: that while some of us can be broken by life’s tragedies and others can choose to feel victimized by them, some of us – the best of us – can go through that fire, and come out if not undamaged, then at least forged into a stronger, nobler metal that we were made of before.

Shirin Juwaley's NGO for burns suvivors is called Palash Foundation

Since this article was written, Shirin Juwaley entered a post on her blog about a Mumbai college principal who refused her entry to the college because she didn't want her students to get frightened at the sight of her.  I have written an open letter to the principal in response.  You can read it on my blog