Ramya Jawahar Kudekallu, a 32-year-old Bengaluru-born American attorney, has been appointed as chairperson of New York City Bar’s International Human Rights Committee. The first coloured woman to hold this position, Kudekallu is all set to take up big challenges in terms of addressing community hardships and making an “impact” upon the system to ensure changes.
“I was nominated for the committee after the background checks and I am extremely happy for being confirmed with an esteemed honorary title. The committee did not have a woman of colour as the chairperson all these days. They have also picked a non-white young woman. I am ready to take risks involved with this responsibility. Fighting for human rights is always challenging, whether it is in India or anywhere. New York is comparatively safer,” Kudekallu was quoted as saying.
Kudekallu was born to Dr. Amitha Malaki, a gynecologist in Kodagu, and an advocate from Sullia. She had done her schooling in Ooty and Dubai and studied law at Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian Law College, Bengaluru. Following this, she completed her master’s in International Law and Human Rights at Fordham University, New York. She currently teaches at Cardozo Law School in New York.
“My father was a senior advocate from Sullia. I lost him to Covid at the same time when the new assignment came through,” she said. Her appointment was made on Sept. 18, 2021. Kudekallu said her association with the Alternative Law Forum has been extremely influential. “Here I learned what ‘representation’ is. The perspective shift of placing ‘community hardship’ happened here. Presently refugees are landing in the US from Afghanistan. We need to account for their situation and contextualize their difficulties. Resettling process and funding process are involved,” she adds.
Kudekallu also notes that the situation of the common man in India and the US is similar as far as inequality is concerned, though the context may appear to be different. “The US may be a developed country and India may be on route to development disparity, but inequality is the same. The plight of have-nots is also similar. In India, predominantly caste and class-based inequalities are found. Oppressed classes and tribals are fighting in India. Whereas in the US, it is African Americans, Native Americans and others who are fighting for their rights.”
Mentioning the farmers’ movements in India, she stressed that “India has signed international treaties as far as human rights are concerned, and needs to adhere to them. If there are individuals and organizations fighting for human rights or raising concerns over the issue, the government has to address the issue,” she added.
Her advice for youngsters is: “If you have a path which is the public interest, engagement should continue whether appreciation comes or not. The drive to transform society must continue.”
“My mind is very much in India though physically I am in the US,” Kudekallu said.
