PEOPLE
Dhwani Executive Team
Ashwini Obulesh,
Founder-Executive Director
Ashwini is a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) and LL.M. graduate and gold-medalist from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. She began her litigation stint with Prof. Ravivarma Kumar, former Advocate General for the State of Karnataka, and has been litigating on human rights issues since more than a decade. She is a visiting professor at NLSIU, Bangalore.
Meghana M,
Associate
Meghana is a B.A., LL.B. (Hons.) graduate from the National Law School of India University, Bangalore, and holds an LL.M. in Law and Development from Azim Premji University. She has previously worked as a Research Assistant at the Supreme Court of India and the High Court of Karnataka, gaining valuable exposure to judicial research and practice.
Archana Casmir,
Legal Awareness Coordinator
Archana has a Bachelor’s Degree in Law from M.S.Ramaiah College of Law, Bangalore and a Master’s Degree in Sociology from Kuvempu University, Shimoga. She uses her experience in the development sector to bridge the gap between the Law and the needs of marginalised communities. Her work involves organising awareness programmes and legal aid camps.
Shashidhara N,
Associate
Shashidhara N is a B.Com. graduate from Tumkur University with professional experience in the logistics and supply chain sector. Driven by a deep sense of social responsibility and a commitment to justice, he transitioned into the legal profession to serve society more meaningfully. He holds an LL.B. degree from Karnataka State Law University.
Srikara Dattatreya, Operations Manager
Srikara Dattatreya has been intimately involved in the operations of Dhwani Legal Trust since its inception. He has been in administration roles in his past places of work, including in a multinational NGO. He has a Diploma in Paralegal Practice. At Dhwani, he engages with the team to create strategies to make the law more accessible and meaningful to the public.
Gangamma KN,
Office Assistant
Ganga serves as the Office Assistant at Dhwani Legal Trust, supporting the organization’s daily operations with dedication and care. She plays a vital role in ensuring the smooth functioning of the office.
Heena Verma,
Associate & Legal Strategy Lead
Heena is an Advocate with practice in civil, criminal, and corporate law. Her experience spans across appearances before District Courts, High Courts, Consumer Forums and Tribunals. She has advised leading organizations including PNB, Indigo, SBI Cards and Aviva Life Insurance. Her qualifications include B.A. LL.B and LL.M degrees, and specialized legal diplomas.
Pooja P,
Associate
Pooja is a Gold Medallist in B.A. LL.B. from University Law College, Bangalore University, with an LL.M. in Corporate Law from Chandigarh University. She has been practicing as an advocate since 2023, handling civil and criminal matters across Karnataka. She has worked as a Legal Research Assistant with the Public Prosecutor (ACB, CBI). A former international Taekwondo athlete, Pooja has represented India internationally and won medals and laurels.
Purushothama N, Associate
Purushothama is a B.Com., LL.B. graduate from Panchami Law College under Karnataka State Law University, Bangalore. He began practising in the courts of Bengaluru in 2021, engaging with matters across diverse areas of law. With a strong foundation in commerce and law, he brings a practical perspective to his work in advancing social justice.
Shraddha Sunil,
Associate
Shraddha’s legal journey spans courtroom advocacy and legal drafting in Karnataka’s High Court and subordinate courts, grassroots work on issues like POCSO and Domestic Violence, and has experience in working on pro-bono cases on behalf of marginalised communities. She holds an LL.M. in Human Rights Law from Jindal Global Law School.
Misbah Shan,
Associate
Before entering the legal profession Misbah earned a Bachelor's degree in Computer Science Engineering and worked briefly as a Software Engineer. Thereafter, Misbah switched her career path to become an advocate and provide legal aid to vulnerable groups. Misbah is a gold medalist from CMR University, School of Legal Studies.
Likhith N R,
Associate
Likhith N R is an LL.M. graduate from Symbiosis Law School, Pune. He has gained diverse litigation experience through internships, where he assisted in high-stakes matters. Driven by a commitment to create social impact, he has engaged in pro-bono outreach through the SDM Law College Legal Aid Clinic, providing essential legal assistance to underserved communities.
Obulesh Sake,
President
S. Obulesh is the Co-founder Trustee of Dhwani Legal Trust. He worked in State Bank of India for 37 years, and retired as Branch Manager. He has been involved in social service and volunteering activities since his retirement.
Pradeep Nayak
Pradeep Nayak is an Advocate with over 20 years of experience. He is one of the founding partners of Keystone Partners, Advocates and Solicitors. He specialises in complex commercial disputes across several fora. As an advocate, he regularly appears before the Supreme Court of India, High Courts, and subordinate courts. Pradeep also regularly appears in public interest and probono cases pertaining to environmental issues and child rights.
Sahana Manjesh
Sahana Manjesh graduated from the National Law School of India University (NLSIU), Bangalore. She is an advocate practising in the trial courts and the High Court in Mumbai. Her practice areas include criminal defence, prisoners' rights, death penalty, juvenile justice, domestic violence, sexual harassment, among others. She engages in legal awareness and capacity building programmes, and is associated with organisations and collectives working towards enabling access to justice.
Trustees
Kasturi Obulesh,
Treasurer
Kasturi Obulesh is the Co-Founder Trustee of Dhwani Legal Trust. She worked in State Bank of India for 39 years and retired as Senior Special Assistant.
Dr. Narendra Ramakrishna, Secretary
Narendra Ramakrishna retired as the Chief Medical Officer at the Medical and Public Health Division, Satish Dhawan Space Centre Sriharikota Range, ISRO. Since more than a decade, he has been working as an Ophthalmologist at the Vivekananda Memorial Hospital, Saragur, Mysuru District, a hospital that caters to the tribal and rural communities living in the Kabini river basin.
Sreekar Vadlamani
Sreekar Vadlamani is a researcher with a focus on statistics and probability, drawn to problems that hold practical relevance. He completed his PhD in Mathematics at Technion (Israel) and subsequently joined the Faculty at the TIFR Center for Applicable Mathematics, Bangalore. Prior to this role, he spent a brief period as a researcher at the Department of Statistics at Stanford University.
Jamuna Ramakrishna
Jamuna Ramakrishna has a Ph. D. in Geography, with emphasis in Environmental Management and Medical Geography from the University of Hawa’ii, Manoa, USA. She is currently a Member, Strategic Advisory Group, Dignity Fellowships, Jan Sahas Social Development Society, in line with her career focusing on Gender, Women’s Rights, Organisational Learning Processes, and collaborative ways of working.
Aditya Sondhi
Designated Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
Harish Narasappa
Designated Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka, Co-Founder, Samvad Partners, Daksh and ADreS Now
Prof. Ravivarma Kumar
Former Advocate General, State of Karnataka and Designated Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
Advisory Board
Dr. Ashwini K P
United Nations Special Rapporteur on Contemporary Forms of Racism, Racial Discrimination, Xenophobia, and Related Intolerance
Chukki Nanjundaswamy
Farmers’ Rights Activist, Karnataka Rajya Raitha Sangha
Jayna Kothari
Designated Senior Advocate, High Court of Karnataka, Co- Founder – Centre for Law & Policy Research
Poornima Hatti
Founding Partner, Samvad Partners, Advocate, High Court of Karnataka
Vikram Hegde
Advocate on Record, Supreme Court of India
Phone
+91 84313 00745
+9180 3590 4062
Connect
Working Hours: 10:30 AM to 7:30 PM (Monday to Saturday)