Women, Know Your Rights: Manasi Chaudhari creates a room of candour on women’s rights at Lit fest

A question posed by a 13-year-old girl at The Hindu’s Lit for Life festival set the tone for a moving conversation on women’s rights. “Why do women take advantage of women?” she asked during a session titled Women, Know Your Rights, featuring UN-recognised lawyer Manasi Chaudhari in conversation with Vidya Singh, drawing a strong response from the audience.

Ms. Chaudhari addressed a range of issues surrounding women’s rights, shedding light on laws governing workplaces and marriage, and engaging with subjects often kept behind closed doors.

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On domestic violence

According to data from her website, a majority of visitors seeking information on sexual harassment accessed resources related to domestic violence, “and several of these women were in marriages”, she added.

At the same time, she noted, there are also cases on the other end of the spectrum, where greater awareness is needed about the different forms of violence that affect a woman’s emotional safety and well-being. “A lot of women believe that only physical abuse counts as violence, and in my book I unpack the many layers of emotional violence,” she said.

Highlighting the intersection of law and religion, she noted: “Your rights could be different from the woman sitting next to you, simply because of your religious differences.”

She emphasised that there is little guidance on the rights women hold in India.

“Financial security is the number one security you can have for yourself,” she said, drawing from her experience at Pink Legal. Whether a woman is able to leave a toxic relationship, she added, often depends on whether she is financially independent.

Filing cases against abusers

Speaking about the chapter in her book that focuses on filing complaints and cases against abusers, Ms. Chaudhari recalled a traumatic incident that eventually led to the formation of Pink Legal.

“The devil lies in the details,” she said, adding that her identity as a lawyer helped her recognise her own strength and act against her abusers.

Noting that conditions have improved over the years, she urged women to seek help when needed. “Do not ever hesitate to reach out to the police,” she told the audience.

Legal handbook for women

Describing her book as a legal handbook for women in India, Ms. Chaudhari highlighted key laws she believes women should remember, including those related to marital rape and harassment through death and rape threats.

She also drew attention to the practical hurdles women face when seeking justice, noting that despite the existence of fast-track courts, there remains a shortage of judges willing to take up cases of violence against women.

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