From Stigma to Strength: The Story of Vanlalruati Colney

In the quiet hills of Mizoram, a silent battle has been raging—one that not many talk about. With over 25,000 registered people living with HIV (PLHIV) in the state, the numbers speak volumes. But behind those numbers are real lives. One such life belongs to Vanlalruati Colney—a woman who not only fought her own HIV diagnosis but also became a beacon of hope for thousands of others.

A Happy Childhood Shattered by Loss

Raised in a church-going middle-class family in Aizawl, Colney lived in a government quarter with her siblings. Her father, a gazetted officer, gave up his job to pursue politics, only to pass away suddenly—leaving the family shattered.

Her mother, once a homemaker, had to sell vegetables to make ends meet. With no one to guide her, a lonely and vulnerable 18-year-old Colney found herself falling into a toxic relationship with a drug user. Pressured to fit in, she too began using drugs. Within just two months, she was addicted.

The Diagnosis That Changed Everything

Life spiraled out of control. After multiple breakups, broken friendships, and emotional trauma, Colney eventually ended up in a hospital covered in painful blisters. The diagnosis? Herpes zoster and HIV.

What followed was more horrifying than the disease itself. She was isolated in a convict’s ward, denied basic dignity, and treated with fear. There was no counselling, no compassion. Only silence, shame, and neglect.

The Fight to Rise Again

Despite everything, Colney made a decision—to live. She quit drugs cold turkey and joined a rehabilitation camp through her church. Even when the withdrawal symptoms got worse, she refused to leave. With sheer determination and community support, she made it through.

With no stigma from her family or church, Colney threw herself into community work—volunteering, counselling, and supporting HIV-positive women.

Birth of a Movement: PWNM

In 2007, she founded the Positive Women’s Network of Mizoram (PWNM)—a safe space where HIV-positive women could lean on each other, share stories, heal, and find purpose. What began as a candle-making group slowly evolved into a powerful network providing:

• Medical aid

• Legal counselling

• Psycho-social support

• Nutrition and rehabilitation

• Employment and life skills

The group’s work caught the attention of the Mizoram State AIDS Control Society, who invited them to run a Drop-In Centre for HIV patients. This opened more doors, connected them with national and global organizations, and gave Colney the wings she needed.

Pandemic Warriors

During the COVID-19 lockdowns, PWNM stepped in again. They delivered ARV drugs, arranged rehab for drug users, and ensured no one was left alone. Through collaborations with UNAIDS, Goonj, and local helplines, PWNM has now reached thousands of women across Mizoram.

A Personal Life Full of Purpose

In 2005, Colney married a man who is also HIV-positive. Today, they have a teenage son—HIV negative and thriving. She was one of the first women in Mizoram to publicly declare her HIV status. In 2019, she was honored with the CII Foundation Woman Exemplar Award.

Her Message to the World

“Being diagnosed with HIV is not a death sentence. Life goes on. The disease can be managed—what people really need is support, empathy, and faith.”

Colney’s journey is a reminder that even in pain, there is purpose. Even in isolation, there can be impact. And even in stigma, there is strength.

Let’s Talk, Let’s Share, Let’s Support ❤️

Stories like Colney’s aren’t just stories—they are reasons to care. Reasons to be kind. Reasons to look beyond stigma and see the human heart.

So let’s talk about HIV. Let’s stand with those who suffer in silence. Let’s be the reason someone doesn’t give up.

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