Indian American Attorney Appointed Chairperson of New York City Bar’s International Human Rights Committee

Ramya Jawahar Kudekallu. (photo via IANS)

BENGALURU – Ramya Jawahar Kudekallu, a 32-year-old Indian American attorney originally from Bengaluru, India, who has been appointed as chairperson of New York City Bar’s International Human Rights Committee, is all set to take up big challenges in terms of addressing community hardships and making an “impact” in 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 color 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 told IANS.

Her role includes leading the committee’s work, continuing the ongoing work, seeing how it can intervene with the issues of the oppressed, and how to spotlight legal analysis.

Kudekallu went to school in Ooty and Dubai and studied law at Bishop Cotton Women’s Christian Law College, Bengaluru. She did her master’s in International Law and Human Rights at Fordham University, New York. She currently teaches at Cardozo Law School in New York.

Her mother, Dr. Amitha Malaki, is a gynecologist in Kodagu. “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 U.S. from Afghanistan. We need to account for their situation and contextualize their difficulties. There is resettling process and funding process are involved,” she adds.

Kudekallu also notes that the “situation of the common man in India and the U.S. is similar as far as inequality is concerned, though the context may appear to be different.

“The U.S. may be a developed country and India may be on route to towards development disparity, but inequality is the same. The plight of have-not’s are also similar. In India, predominantly caste and class-based inequalities are found. Oppressed classes and tribals are fighting in India. Whereas in the U.S., it is African Americans, Native Americans and others who are fighting for their rights.”

Asked about the movement by farmers in India, she said 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, it is the duty of the government to address the issue, she stressed.

Her advice for youngsters is: “If you have a path which is the public interest, engagement should continue despite whether appreciation comes or not. The drive to have the commitment of transforming society must continue.”

“My mind is very much in India though physically I am in the U.S.,” Kudekallu said. She underlines that forgoing power and class privilege is the need of the hour.