Samreen Iboo Sait’s Post

I am a member of a few DEI and POSH  WhatsApp groups built on the idea of sharing information about diversity and inclusion practices, tips and tricks, sharing ideas and thoughts about making places more inclusive and equitable. While most conversations are insightful and informative, the one on 'menstrual leave ' has been rather disheartening. I read messages after messages from a few members (who very actively work or intend to work in the DEI space) that would simply reinforce inequality in the work place. DEI practitioners making arguments against period leave, claiming that making the workplace inclusive to a large group of people who menstruate would add to the stigma of hiring from the group and that ones that don't menstruate must also be given 'good day' leave for equality purposes so they don't feel left out. It's a little concerning when the very people who have opted to work towards creating inclusive spaces, reinforce structures of inequality we so desperately need to dismantle. Menstruation has been a taboo topic in public spaces for far too long. So when we as a society have come a very long way to even get to a point where menstrual leave is a topic of discussion in all spaces, we should seize that opportunity to create spaces that are comfortable for individuals who need it. DEI practitioners must be at the forefront of this discussion, pushing for inclusion without reinforcement of inequalities at work and everywhere else. #deileaders #equityandinclusion

I attended the Bangalore Lit Fest recently, intending to attend only two sessions. Reached there and found myself scrambling to pick and choose one session over the other because there were so many voices I wanted to hear on topics that piqued my interest. I will not list out the 10 or more sessions I wanted to watch but I will tell you of the two sessions that I will remember for a long time. The title of the first session was 'I hate love stories' with some amazing authors sharing their perspectives on writing and the process. Rheea, an author of fiction - who translates the very real human experience unabashedly yet beautifully in her books, shone brightly on stage in her watermelon tshirt while speaking against genocide - the first person with influence I had heard (of the 6-7 until then) use her professional platform and social captial to say the things that matter. The second was titled 'Fields of Fire: Conflicts around the world" and needless to say, the topic of conversation was of the Palestinians being slaughtered by the occupation state and the Panel consisted of luminaries like Talmiz Ahmad - Former Ambassador of India to Saudi Arabia, Nitin Pai, Navtej Sarna and was moderated by Neena Gopal. A session that shared very real insights on the ongoing assault. I will not attempt to further deduce into words the wonderful sessions but I do have excerpts to share for the benefit of those interested. On a side note: While the lit fest is a celebration of ideas and diversity in thought, an act of Solidarity with the occupied people outside home in Palestine and those facing an ethnic cleansing in Manipur was paradoxically labelled inconvenient and 'walled' off presumably so that the intellectuals could have a conversation that talks of the convenient realities reimagines than the realities we live in, one that was more aesthetic than genocide. The paradox of these events, at a LIT fest, made me reflect on the superficial nature of 'professional settings' which conveniently use freedom of expression to further capitalist goals while eluding 'controversial' stances. Nonetheless, these are spaces that we need, to say what we think, to share ideas and thoughts and maybe one day, if we continue to speak in volumes and in colonies, we will be heard just as intently as the crowd listened to Rheea and Talmiz Ahmad. Until the next LIT fest, I will use this space to have these conversations and I hope to have these conversations with you. #freedomofspeech #discussions

Why supporting the Palestinian cause is selfish! I have always believed that supporting the Palestinian cause is selfish, self-serving and one that we must do all we can to strengthen. I believe equality is a very selfish endeavor. I selfishly want to support a cause that demands freedom from oppression and discrimination. I selfishly want push equality in every space that I am in, every space I enter and every space I pass by. I want to, very selfishly, be treated just as well as anybody else with the right to speak my mind. I selfishly, not only want a seat at the table but I want a comfortable seat, I want to speak at the table, I want to even eat at the table without feeling smaller or feeling like the bare minimum is a privilege. You and I need to be selfish to be better, to have diversity, equality, equity, inclusion, and belonging in every space and group that we exist in. At the heart of the Palestinian cause is a people’s call for freedom and inclusion. A call to be equal, to have rights and freedoms that are inherent to any human being irrespective of their race, religion, caste, creed, geographical location and every other metric of categorization. It took to me too long to write this without rage because that’s what I’ve been feeling for the last few weeks but seeing some of the sensitive, beautiful, and insightful posts that a lot of individuals wrote in support of Palestine this past month urged me to write one that encapsulates why supporting a resistance such as this, is important to me. Why I want the people I respect and hold dear to be ones that are people of empathy and compassion, and those who will speak up and fight with me for my rights and I, theirs if they were infringed and trampled upon. I want to end this post paraphrasing what Gina Rodriguez and Ellen Pompeo said in an interview - As anybody with privilege, it is our job, our task and our responsibility to make sure that we speak up in every single space we walk into and that we can all do better [Ellen]. And the world we live in, “is a puzzle, we are all pieces of and we don’t exist without one and another"[Gina].

I was not expecting to speak to an audience today, most definitely not impressionable students but when I did reach the venue of the Constitution Day event organized by #NammaNilgiris – intending to be an observer while the Preamble was read, Shobana (the organizer) turned to me and said, “You will be speaking today”. Here are snippets of me attempting to explain the importance of the Preamble of the Constitution to students between ages 10 and 16. I truly believe that the Preamble is a reflection of the values of our country and also its aspirations. We want to stall tall as a nation that is a Sovereign, Socialist, Secular, Democratic Republic and one that ensures Justice, Liberty, Equality to all and is a Fraternity. Now is a good time as any to introspect the values that are enshrined in our #constitution and aspirations of all that we as a nation and as individuals can be, and apply them in our lives – in the way we think, act, speak and treat each other.     PS: Shobana Chandrashekar and a teacher decided to film this and I’m grateful.   #constitution #iplawyer #lawday #indianlawyers #legaleducation #students 

So excited to be a part of this webinar on a topic that is relevant to law students and lawyers alike. See you tomorrow Alliance University (virtually of course)!

When we don't have lived-experiences of a category of discrimination and other-ing, it's hard to truly understand the weight of the struggles faced by the community. Your efforts may even feel like performative solidarity, but do push through that feeling and continue to amplify voices of those who are directly impacted. Here are two causes and two voices I want to amplify today and I hope you do too. 1. On the ongoing apartheid - Yara Eid https://lnkd.in/gNJ9UTNs 2. On yesterday's SC verdict - Parmesh Shahani https://lnkd.in/gYJsVZ_Y #inclusion #resistanceandresilience

For the next few days, I know I’m going to be reading the rightly placed disappointment of my friends in the queer community at the verdict of the SC. While I will not comment on aspects of constitutional law, I realize that the struggles of the community will go on and the “bouquet of rights” that they should have received as law-abiding citizens will now be deferred. As an ally, I’m aware of the privilege I come from, and I cannot claim to understand the emotions of my friends in the queer community. But I want to let you know that I will listen to you, offer any support I can extend and that I stand with you. Some statements from the verdict that I thought offer hope were - "Our constitution templates a holistic understanding of equality that applies to all spheres of life. The practice of equality necessitates acceptance and protection of individual choices...let us preserve this autonomy so long as it doesn’t impinge on the rights of others. After all, it's my life”. Your firm stance and efforts have brought us so far, and we will celebrate a day where the protection that everyone is entitled to in theory, translates to real life. Also, on a side note, I’m so glad to be a part of a workplace that does their best to be an ally by urging us to be aware, to know and to learn. ALG India Law Offices LLP #samesexmarriage #ally #inclusion

ALG is #hiring. Know anyone who might be interested?