Sunitha Krishnan’s Life Is a Story of Grit, Determination and Persuasion

I Am What I Am, Sunitha Krishnan’s autobiography, is the powerful and honest story of the founder of Prajwala, the largest organisation in Asia fighting sex trafficking. Krishnan, a Padma Shri recipient, has been instrumental in drafting several victim-centric policies, comprehensive training manuals and handbooks for law enforcement in India’s anti-trafficking ecosystem. In her memoir, Krishnan talks about the five decades of her life and three decades of her activism.

What makes I Am What I Am a compelling read is the gripping narrative and Krishnan’s approach towards challenges. Her story is one of grit and determination, charting her journey from Bangalore, where she faced a harrowing 24-day arrest for attending a rally, to her impactful rehabilitation work in Hyderabad. Her unwavering belief in the divine and trust in the universe served as a guiding light, even when faced with life-threatening encounters. Throughout, she shares valuable lessons on trust, belief and courage.

Krishnan does not adopt a victim mindset while talking about her experience as a survivor of sexual assault while on an education drive for kids in a village. Instead, she was driven by the conviction to turn her experience into a mission to rescue and rehabilitate as many survivors as possible. Her first rescue was when she was just 17, showcasing her unwavering. She has gone on to rescue 28,900 survivors, rehabilitated 26,900 people and prevented 18,000 children from entering the sex trade since she set up Prajwala in 1996.

In Krishnan’s three decades of activism, she faced many challenges such as death threats, vandalism, hostility by victims in court, betrayal, bureaucratic red tape and physical assault. Her resilience shines through, from surviving a near-fatal auto rickshaw attack and an acid assault to having her nasal septum broken while rescuing Rizwana, a young girl then and now a head constable in the police force. Krishnan’s only mission has been to fight for justice and uplift survivors of trafficking. There are many more such rescue stories in the book which will keep you engrossed and inspired.

Also read: ‘Held Captive, Pushed Into Prostitution’: Chilling Accounts of Punjabi Women Rescued From the Gulf

Apart from the hardships and struggles, the book also introduces you to the people in her life who stood by her throughout: her family, her grandmother, her friend Jo (who was a mentor and guide too) and Rajesh, who not only believed in her selfless work but eventually chose her as his life partner, highlighting the importance of support and love in overcoming challenges.

The chapters that stood out for me were chapter 10, ‘Moving Away for Good’, and the ones that followed. Krishnan makes the pivotal choice to leave her parents behind and start afresh in Hyderabad after a humiliating and disturbing arrest. It felt like she was following her true calling as fate guided her toward the cause she was destined to support. Her secret visits to Mehboob ki Mehendi, Hyderabad’s “red light district”, all while she continued her advocacy for slum dwellers, marked the start of her remarkable journey. She felt compelled to step in and help these women, and her dedication ultimately led to The Eternal Flame – Prajwala – becoming the largest organisation in Asia fighting sex trafficking. The rest, as they say, is history.

Even today, Krishnan challenges the society’s attitude toward survivors and demands a shift in perspective. Why is the victim always blamed? Why the apathy toward survivors? And why the resistance to their inclusion?

Krishnan’s story is one of determination for anyone who wants to make a difference. The final chapter, ‘I Am What I Am’, captures this sentiment beautifully. This book is a must read for anyone who wants to understand the complexities of human trafficking, as well as the extraordinary resilience of the human spirit.

Sarika Chavan is the Founder of Sparkle Gift Cards. She writes one book review each month since 2021. These are published at Reputation Today. She has recently edited a book called Spark, a collection of real life stories of India’s Public Relations pioneers. She lives in Mumbai.