Who: Shamnad Basheer
Education: BA LLB from National Law School of India University (NLSIU), BCL from Oxford University, M.Phil from Oxford University.
How do you make sure that justice is served? You learn what the rules are and ensure that they are followed! Lawyers are the people who know our judicial system best. That’s why anyone who goes to court should have a good lawyer to represent them.
Professor Shamnad Basheer is a well-known lawyer and activist. He lectures at law schools all over India and runs a non-profit called IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access). IDIA was created to give disadvantaged students the chance to study law at some of India’s best law schools. Today, there are branches of IDIA in almost every state in the country.
After studying the law for many years, Basheer realised that he was passionate about teaching and wanted to put his knowledge to use. His speciality is Intellectual Property law.
Professor Basheer came back to India, after working abroad for awhile, because he wanted to influence the youth of our country. He wanted to teach the new generation and help them become great lawyers. However, once he began teaching at NUJS, he realised that most of the students were from wealthy families. This was because studying law is expensive and most underprivileged children don’t know much about the power of the law. He decided to change that and started training underprivileged kids so that they too could become lawyers one day. He believes that when you have a lawyer in a community, that person becomes a community leader and will help that community become better.
He decided to change that and started training underprivileged kids so that they too could become lawyers one day. He believes that when you have a lawyer in a community, that person becomes a community leader and will help that community become better.
The IDIA ‘Champs’ are supported financially and academically throughout their time at law school. IDIA also includes a diversity branch that works with persons with disabilities. It’s good to know our future will be so much more inclusive!
Long Story Short
- Shamnad Basheer was a professor at NUJS, Kolkata.
- He studied and worked abroad until his mentor suggested he move back to India.
- He came back to India to help educate young minds.
- When he joined NUJS, he realised that the students were mostly from wealthy families.
- He was inspired to start IDIA to give youth in poorer and rural areas the chance to study law.
- IDIA works towards getting underprivileged kids into the top law schools in India.
- They also support them financially and help them with the social aspects of the experience.