On 26-01-2026, in honor of the 77th Republic Day, a Free Legal Aid Camp was conducted at K. Gollahalli High School campus, Kumbalagodu. The initiative aimed to provide the rural community with direct access to legal experts, fulfilling the constitutional mandate of "Justice for all" as enshrined in Article 39A of the Indian Constitution. This camp was organized by Dhwani Legal Trust in collaboration with Nagarika Swayam Seva Samasthe, a locally based NGO and with the support

Jyoti Nivas College Autonomous, Bengaluru, through its Jyoti Mahila Samithi (Women’s Cell), successfully organized an awareness session on “Sexual Harassment of Women in the Workplace: Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal Act, 2013 (POSH Act)” on Friday, 16 January 2026, at 10:40 a.m. in the Jyoti Auditorium. The session was conducted for the staff and students of the college. The programme commenced with an introduction by Advocate Ashwini Obulesh, High Court of Karnataka a

Dhwani organised a public book discussion on the memoir, based on a jail diary written by Seema Azad titled "Unsilenced". Seema pried open India’s carceral labyrinth, insect ridden food, dilapidated barracks, deep rooted caste and gender hierarchies, and the ceaseless indignities of a system built on bribes and exploitation. She shared that the reality are the unforgettable stories of the women prisoners she met, a majority of them Dalit, Adivasi, Muslim and the children who

This interactive session was conducted on January 9, 2026, for Indian Trade Officers at National Law School India University, Bengaluru for around 11 officers to address the evolving landscape of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), 2002. Advocates Meghana and Misbah from Dhwani Legal Trust were the resource persons. Advocate Meghana’s session focused on the interface between the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 and foreign trade regulation. She discussed ho

A sensitisation and awareness session on the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act, 2013 (POSH Act) was conducted for the staff, faculty, and students of TIRF. The session was led by Advocate Ashwini Obulesh, Founder-Executive Director of Dhwani Legal Trust who served as the resource person for the programme. The session aimed to create awareness regarding workplace safety, gender sensitivity, and the legal mechanisms available fo

Du Sarawathi is a writer, theatre practitioner and activist whose work bridges personal experience with collective histories. With over a five decades in women's and dalit movements in Karnataka, she has been a leading voice on cste and gender justice. This Talk highlighted the role of women in the Ambedkarite Movement, empathise with their dreams for citizenship, did a reality check, and helped each of us to think about our place in India today.

The screening was followed by an in-depth discussion with Prof. Arun K Thiruvengadam, Professor of Law, NLSIU, Researches in the area of Comparative Constitutional Law, Indian constitutional and administrative law, Law and Development, Welfare Rights and Law and Politics of South Asia. The final episode of Samvidhaan, titled 'From Preamble to the Final Draft and Beyond', was brought into a modern, academic light through the discussion with Prof. Arun K. Thiruvengadam. As a le

This screening was followed by an intense discussion with Dr. Ashna Singh, Assisstant Professor at NLSIU Bangalore, - UGC-DAAD, visiting fellow at Humboldt University. While the episode shows the Assembly choosing the Parliamentary system, Dr. Singh likely discussed the practical blurring of lines between the Executive and the Legislature. In India, the Executive is drawn from the Legislature, which can sometimes lead to a Cabinet Dictatorship if one party has a massive major

This screening was followed by a deeper discussion with Vinay K. Srinivasan, Advocate and Member, Alternative Law Forum(ALF) focusing on Constitutional literacy, urban governance, urban transport and informal sector livelihoods. In relation to federalism, we can look at how he bridges the gap between the Samvidhaan episode and modern legal challenges. While the episode showcases the framing of these laws, Srinivasan’s talks typically focused on the lived experience of these l

The episode focused on the primary contenders those were Hindi (in Devanagari script) and Hindustani (a blend of Hindi and Urdu, advocated by Mahatma Gandhi and Nehru as a symbol of Hindu-Muslim unity). It was followed by an open house discussion with Mr. Chetan Kumar, a Fulbright scholar, Actor and Activist advocating for Dalit, tribal and gender justice. Chetan's perspective as a Kannada activist is pivotal.

The screening was followed by a talk and discussion on the theme by the amazing Adv. Clifton D' Rozario. Practicing advocate with Manthan Law, National Secretary, AICCTU, State Secretary CPI (ML) Liberation.

An intensive sensitization session was conducted for police personnel on 12th November 2025 in collaboration with Dhwani Legal Trust to bridge the gap between understanding the POSH Act as an internal workplace requirement and its enforcement as a legal mandate. Through this session, Adv Ashwini, Executive Director of Dhwani Legal Trust focused on the dual role of the police: ensuring a safe working environment within the department and assisting victims who approach the stat

A Gender Sensitisation Session for graduate students of KLE College, Bangalore was organised in collaboration with Dhwani Legal Trust on the 11th of November 2025. Around 100 students were present and had a meaningful learning session. The session was facilitated by Adv Ashwini Obulesh, Executive Director of Dhwani Legal Trust. She started the session with the Power or Privilege Game wherein the students were able to understand the practicalities of the society we all live in

This one day session on Labour laws was organised by India Labour Line in collaboration with Dhwani Legal Trust on the 11th of December 2025 at Indian Social Institute, Bengaluru. The day commenced at 10:00 AM with an opening address emphasizing the power imbalance in the employer-employee relationship. The primary objective was to equip participants with the legal literacy required to identify violations and assist workers in the informal and unorganized sectors. There were

The event was organized by the Sociology Department of Mount Carmel College, Bangalore for around 200 students of Graduation course. The main objective of the session was to bring in consciousness among students regarding caste system and the so-called privileges attached it like Reservation. Reservation has a very critical viewpoint especially among the youngsters today. Hence, there has to continuous efforts made to make them realise and understand how and why affirmative a

Parihar organised an awareness session on offences against women under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) at the Parihar Command Centre for its counsellors. The session was aimed at strengthening the legal awareness of counsellors who work closely with women facing violence and abuse and who often act as the first point of contact for survivors. The programme sought to help counsellors understand key criminal offences affecting women under the new legal framework and relate th

The Samvidhaan Series, Episode 4- People's Rights, Principles of Governance and Duties was screened at Dhwani Legal Trust wherein the episode is pivotal as it shifts the focus from the structure of the state to the specific rights and responsibilities of the Indian citizen. It covers the intense debates within the Constituent Assembly regarding what would eventually become the Fundamental Rights and the Directive Principles of State Policy. This episode captures the "soul" of

The screening of Samvidhaan Series, Episode 5: 'Strengthening the Weak: Minority, Women and Backward Rights' in Dhwani Legal Trust explored how the Indian Constitution seeks to empower historically marginalised communities, with a focus on minorities, women and backward classes. The episode highlighted Constitutional provisions on equality and affirmative actions situating them within social realities of exclusion and structural disadvantage. The screening was followed by an

The third episode of Samvidhaan Series: Righting Fundamental Wrongs with Fundamental Rights - was screened in Dhwani Legal Trust. Samvidhaan Series is the acclaimed ten-part docudrama directed by Shyam Benegal and produced by Rajya Sabha Television. This episode highlighted deliberations on rights such as equality, freedom of movement, expression and legal protections to correct the wrongs and protect the civil liberties of citizens in the new republic. It also embarked on ho

The second installment of the Samvidhaan screening series, titled “Independence: A Divided Legacy”, was held as part of our ongoing initiative to revisit and critically engage with the making of the Indian Constitution. The episode brought alive the turbulent years surrounding India’s independence and the parallel journey of constitution-making, portraying the hopes, anxieties, and compromises that defined the Constituent Assembly. The screening was followed by a talk by Prof