Faces Of Courage: Piyush Mishra, Kushboo Sundar Share Their Stories Of Sexual Abuse

Life isn't a smooth ride for any. There is a dark side to all of us, moments where we felt vulnerable, broken, unstable, and daunted. While some manage to emerge out of the darkness, others detach themselves and live a life cocooned in their world. The latter is usually a behavioural consequence of abuse or trauma. No matter if victims of abuse open up sooner or later, the effect is commonly long-term and scars you forever.

Those who come forth to share their story of abuse are indeed faces of courage. For public figures who inhabit the glitzy world, uncovering their darkest fears is an even bigger challenge. Kudos to celebrities who instead of giving a rosy picture of their life, come ahead and unveil the other side.

Recently, celebrated names like Piyush Mishra and Kushboo Sundar shared their stories of sexual abuse.

An Incident That Scarred Piyush Mishra For Life

Veteran actor Piyush Mishra in his autobiographical novel, Tumhari Auqaat Kya Hai Piyush Mishra shared a tragic incident from his life when he was sexually assaulted by a female relative. In an interview with PTI, Mishra shared how the incident that took place around 50 years ago scarred him. He said, “Sex is such a healthy thing that your first encounter with it should be good, otherwise it scars you for life, it disturbs you for life. That sexual assault gave me complex throughout my life and it took me a long time and several partners to come out of it. I wanted to hide the identity of some people. Some of them are women, and some men who are now well established in the film industry. I did not want to take revenge against anybody, or to hurt anyone.”

Kushboo Sundar On Being Sexually And Physically Abused By Her Father

Actor turned politician, Kushboo Sundar also shared a disturbing incident from her childhood recently. She revealed that her father started physically and sexually abusing her when she was eight. Sundar only got the courage to speak against him at the age of 15. She said, “I think when a child is abused, it scars the child for life and it’s not about a girl or a boy… A man who probably thought it was his birthright to beat up his wife, beat up his children, sexually abuse his only daughter. When my abuse started I was just 8 years old and I had the courage to speak against him when I was 15.”

When she was eight, she was afraid to share her story of abuse with her mother because she feared that her mother wouldn't believe her. She shared that she grew up in an environment where women had a mindset that no matter what happens their husband is their God. However, when she turned 15, she thought she had enough and finally stood against him. Kushboo Sundar further shared that she was 16 when her father left home and they didn't know where the next meal at home will come from.

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Why Now?

As soon as news about Piyush Mishra and Khusbhu Sundar’s tragic past broke, a lot of internet users started questioning why the two opened up years later and what made them keep mum all these years. We spoke to clinical psychologist, Sneha Devand asked what could be the possible reason behind victims of sexual abuse opening up about it later in life. She said, “When an individual is sexually abused, they undergo trauma. Not many heal quickly. It can take years for some to come out of it. One possible reason behind an individual opening up about their tragic past is that they get triggered by something which makes them reveal that dark fear. Another one can be acceptance. Many fail to accept the incident of sexual assault and it takes years for them to come to terms with it. Overcoming their fear and feeling the urge to share it to prevent anyone else from facing a similar abuse could be another reason why many victims open up sooner or later.

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Clearly, sexual abuse breaks you, to say the least. If you or someone you know is a victim of sexual abuse in the past, don't hesitate to ask for support, and seek professional help if required. Though the decision to report the abuse is yours, know that reporting the assault can be your silver lining and give you your strength back.