A dynamic and fearless person, always ready to help others, Abha Singh, a former civil servant, a social activist, an author and a practising eminent lawyer talks with Aparna Mishra, the founder of Women Shine.
Excerpts of the interview:
Q. A large number of rape cases are not reported to the police in our country. What is your take on it?
The women face a lot of challenges when they decide to go on a legal route from the moment they report the person who raped or sexually assaulted them. They are called to the police station many times to identify the person or record their statement which is traumatic for the victim. Also, they are subjected to hostile questioning. Due to such terrible experiences, women stay away from taking legal action. Also, society pressures, poor conviction rate, NCRB figures say that only 32 per cent rape accused are convicted and rest go scot-free. The victims and witnesses are openly threatened. Long trials are another reason people are losing faith in the criminal justice system. Hence a lot of rape cases are not reported because they know they won’t get justice.
However, efforts are on to bring in reforms not only in the police but also the judiciary. We need to eradicate corruption if we want things to improve. Judiciary is finally taking the help of technology. But this would still take time as lakhs of cases are pending and we need speedy trials.
Q. As you deal with rape, sexual harassment and domestic violence cases. How do these cases affect you as a person?
These cases affect me both emotionally and mentally. An 11-year-old girl was raped – she used to go to her friend’s house in the neighbourhood to play and there she was raped by her friend’s father. The cases are heart-wrenching. I was extremely moved by Sapna Shukla’s case. Sapna Shukla lost her balance and fell under the train at Kurla station in Mumbai after being attacked by a teenager who tried to steal a gold chain around her neck but no action was taken because the convict was juvenile. You feel bad but I am a soldier, I have to fight back. I had a government job, the best one I would say, the civil services. I wanted to help the underprivileged and the marginalized so I left the comforts of a prestigious job and became a lawyer to be the voice of the silenced millions as well as where the women have misused the law.
Q. You have launched a book ‘Stree – Dasha aur Disha’. Tell us more about it.
The bookpromotes women empowerment. I have highlighted real-time cases and their legal recourse with an aim to educate women of their rights. At the launch, many celebrities including Gul Panag, Bhagyashree and other important personalities praised the book. All legal rights about women were translated into Hindi so that women in rural India could benefit. Such was the appreciation and demand that I had to get the book translated in Urdu for the Muslim women. A lot of readers have got back to tell me that they felt empowered after reading my book.
Q. You are the President, founder, & trustee of your NGO – Rannsamar Foundation. Tell us more about it.
Our vision and mission are to ensure that quality legal aid is available to people who are helpless, destitute and unable to fend for themselves. Those violating the rule of law get emboldened in the face of victims’ helplessness and we must end that. We have already launched a free legal aid centre in Lucknow and Dharavi. The NGO also provides computer training to convicts of Lucknow and Jaunpur jails. We have adopted a village called Dadaura in Barabanki where the NGO is working for women empowerment. Girls who had to drop out due to poverty have been re-admitted in schools. The NGO is looking after their fees, books and uniforms.
Q. How would you define the real Abha Singh?
I am a strong, sensitive and resilient person. I am hundred per cent genuine and I don’t believe in pretences. I stay true to myself and my principles. I walk the extra mile to help people who suffer injustice because I believe God has given me the ability to do so. My quest for justice and truth have often-times put me at odds with the powerful but this in no way deters me from achieving my goals.
Q. You wear multiple hats – a lawyer, an author and an activist. Which role do you enjoy the most?
I am very passionate about all of them. I have authored a book ‘Stree Dasha aur Disha’ on Womens’ Rights in Hindi which was released in Lucknow, Delhi and Mumbai. Now I am writing it in English. You have one life but you can play multiple roles and I make it a point to do as much as I can and to the best of my abilities. Nothing satisfies me more. The beauty of the legal profession is that it allows me to speak against wrongdoings, fight in courts and bring a smile on the faces of the victims. If I have to choose one, I would say my life as a lawyer is the best.
Q. What are your interests?
I love watching movies. I am a regular walker; I walk daily for one hour. My NGO is my passion. I hold a lot of talks. I guide my interns and the youth and hold legal awareness seminars so that people may get to know what the laws are. I am organizing computer classes in jails for convicts as well so that when they are released, they have a fresh start and they can use the skills imparted by RannSamar Foundation and contribute positively to society. I am very involved with my children, both are lawyers and help me with my Public Interest Litigations.
Isha, Abha Singh’s daughter, a brilliant mind and a fearless person.
Isha is a graduate from the National Law School, Bangalore and is now practising in the Bombay High Court. Instead of treading the path of a corporate law firm life, she has chosen to work for the rights of the marginalized. One of her cases involves securing compensation for the families of the deceased manual scavengers. Despite the Supreme Court ordering Rs. 10 lakh compensation for such families in the Bombay High Court, the Maharashtra Government has not given compensation in even a single case, although hundreds of deaths have taken place in Mumbai’s sewers.
“Such inhumane practices have no place in modern India”, Isha says. She is particularly passionate about the rights of women and was the co-founder of the NLS Feminist Alliance in her college.
She is also working with her mother, to challenge the loopholes in the Prevention of Sexual Harassment Act, 2013, which allows cases of sexual harassment in private companies to be stifled. Apart from this, she is deeply committed to spreading legal awareness because she feels a lot of exploitation takes place because people are not aware of their basic rights. This was the idea behind ‘The People’s Lawyer.’
She says that both her parents have had a profound influence on her outlook in life. “From a young age, probably since the year I was born, I witnessed my father, an upright and honest police officer in the CBI struggle against a corrupt system. I was 9 years old when he tendered his resignation. His unwavering commitment to his principles taught me that strength of character and our duty towards society should never be compromised. My mother, through her life’s work, has taught me the value of compassion, optimism and fearlessness. From them, I have learnt that if you believe in yourself and your principles, anything is possible.”
Q . What is your message to our readers?
I want women to fight against injustice and fight for their fundamental rights. Be brave. Please don’t suffer in silence. You have a right to be happy and fulfil your dreams. I want to see an equal world to live and grow. I want to tell everyone, irrespective of gender, believe in yourself and work hard for it. There is no shortcut to success.
