“The world of law requires more people with conscience” – Sakshi Aravind, gold medalist from NLSIU Class of ‘14

Sakshi Aravind was awarded a total of ten gold medals at the recently held convocation ceremony at the National Law School of India University, Bangalore. In this e-mail interview with Bar & Bench, she talks about what kept her motivated through the five years, her future plans, and why law school can be a life-changing experience..B&B: Ten gold medals. There must have been several proud moments during the convocation no?.Sakshi Aravind: Yes! Indeed it is a great feeling. More than anything, it is a relief and a sense of unburdening. Five years of rigorous study and hard work has paid off very well. I must also acknowledge that it is the pride which you sense when you are respected by those whom you have always admired and respected!.B&B: What would you say drove you through the law course?.SA: I was very ambitious even as a kid. I wanted to be the best in whatever I did and loved doing. Since I loved law as a subject and yearned for the identity provided by the academia, I wanted to be at the top always. Once I began my training in law school, I realised the dedication and commitment required by the academic study of law was almost religious. Law has a great potential and the phrase that it is a great vehicle of change is not clichéd. The potentials are incredible and uncharted. Studying law as a discipline, as an interface with society and its institutions, helped me admire its unlimited strength. I guess, both these factors helped me stay driven..B&B: You joined PARI immediately after graduation? What attracted you to PARI, and what were some of your responsibilities there?.SA: Oh well, PARI was a lucky accident. We had managed to get P.Sainath to law school for a single credit course. He introduced us to PARI. Since I knew I would have lot of time at hand once I graduate, I readily agreed to travel and write for him..As for what attracted me to PARI? – Hmm, it is probably Sainath himself who has magnetic qualities! I was fascinated with the concept of documenting ‘rural India’, the definition of which was amorphous, yet very compelling and convincing..I love photography and writing and I knew for a fact that working on something like PARI would be life changing. If our generation can accomplish even part of what Mr.Sainath has done, I think we can feel a lot less guilty. Hence I plunged into the project and have been consumed by it completely! I will be travelling this week for the work on the next phase of PARI..B&B: And now you are off to Oxford. What do you plan on studying there?.SA: In Oxford I would be studying Criminal law, Evidence, Medical Law and Ethics and International Criminal law – all the areas I have loved in law school. And I get to study under Andrew Ashworth!.B&B: Best memories of law school?.SA: Law school itself is a beautiful memory. We lived five years like a beautiful poem. If you insist, I would say it was sitting in the library, studying and watching out of the windows! Yes, working endlessly was indeed the best part..B&B: Any suggestions for those who are considering studying law?.SA: I would say – follow your heart. This is a noble profession. We are not just litigators and corporate lawyers. We are teachers and academicians too. The world of law requires more people with conscience. So, if you can convince yourself that you love the law, please join the breed. Get into a law school as soon as you can. Life changes after that!