Lawyer, Solemniser, Comedian
Co-author - Srinidhi Raghavan Our engagement with sexuality begins early, probably when we were caught scratching the in-between-parts of our body and heard, “chhi chhi, don’t touch there” from adults. This statement, inter alia, made two connections: a) do not touch ‘there’; b) it is shameful to do so. Most children therefore encounter information about … Continue reading To keep children safe, talk to them meaningfully about sexuality
It's the 9th anniversary of POCSO. It is nearly impossible to keep the victim protected from the accused. The entry and exit to court complexes are usually common. The area where litigants and witnesses wait for their turn is also shared. With 41% of the population under 18, India is often called a “young nation”. … Continue reading POCSO’s child friendly policies good in theory, but practically we need to do better
Stronger is written by Geoff Power and directed by Paul Meade. The play was showcased as part of Dublin Theatre Festival at the Smock Alley Theatre. Based on real-life events, it tells the story of a teacher (Jan) who was sexually abused by her student (Damon). It depicts the impact of the violence on her … Continue reading Stronger – A play that makes us re-evaluate the meaning of justice
I am autistic. I am perpetually tired. In other words, I am either too fatigued to access a venue or overstimulated which makes me hide from noise. An hour-long social event takes me two weeks to mentally prepare for, and two weeks to recover from. It is like a bad hangover. I can either partake … Continue reading Stand-up comedy and accessibility during Pandemic and beyond
US President Donald Trump was in India. He visited the Taj Mahal in Agra. Every national and international media outlet covered this very closely. Meanwhile Indians have been protesting against the newly introduced Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) since December 2019. The protests have been very peaceful until now. Many of these protests have been led … Continue reading Delhi Is Burning
Inroduction Through this module, we encourage efforts to deepen our understanding of our identity and explore nuances in what “identity” means, how we think about it, how it works in society, and how it affects our everyday life and interactions. Furthermore, it will help you understand how the multiple identities we carry in our everyday … Continue reading What is privilege?
Victims are only considered witnesses to a crime: The case is typically between the state and the accused.Image for representation. Two recent incidents have taken centre stage in all discussion this week – rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, and the rape of a teenage girl in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh. … Continue reading India’s justice system hardly cares about what the victim wants, and this must change
From the day I was born, I was at the receiving end of unsolicited comments about what I am and who I am. It has shaped the way I look at myself, feel about myself, present myself and love myself. The day I was born: “She has beautiful features. If only she had lighter skin … Continue reading Have you been body-shamed and called ‘fugly’? This will teach you a lesson
To keep children safe, talk to them meaningfully about sexuality POCSO’s child friendly policies good in theory, but practically we need to do better Stronger – A play that makes us re-evaluate the meaning of justice Neglected and Forgotten: Women with disabilities during COVID crisis in India Stand-up comedy and accessibility during Pandemic and beyond … Continue reading
I am a law graduate, and three or four years ago, I started working with children who are victims of sexual abuse. I told myself that a case like this was just like any other, in which I have to represent my clients and safeguard their interests. I did not think this through. I did … Continue reading Dealing with vicarious trauma: What law school did not teach me about working on cases of sexual violence