Nirbhaya advocate Seema Samridhi shares the mantra that keeps her fighting spirit alive

If the movement of women supporting women had a Hall Of Fame, you can bet Seema Samridhi would have her own pedestal. The advocate has dedicated her life to raising her voice for those who have none, exemplified by her work on the Nirbhaya case that captivated the nation.

Samridhi attributes her rise from her village in Beehal, Chambal to the highest courts in the land to a chance reading of Mahatma Gandhi’s biography. “I realised that because he was an advocate, he understood the law. Those who are lawyers are able to argue logically, and in case the law falls short, they can fight to change it.”

This Women’s Day, Seema Samridhi kickstarts the sixth edition of Levi’s #IShapeMyWorld initiative, joining six other risk-taking, rule-breaking powerhouses, from journalist Faye D’Souza and musician Raja Kumari to filmmaker Zoya Akhtar and activist Trisha Shetty. Conceptualised in 2017, the #IShapeMyWorld platform introduces us to a squad of female icons to inspire a new generation of women with their stories.

Samridhi, the inexhaustible human rights champion, gives us a sneak peek into what drives her. “Whenever I get a case where a woman find herself completely without support, I’m ready to go out of my way to help and guide her. Even though it’s all-consuming and affects your personal life, I get energised by this work.”

So how does someone with such a serious day job let off some steam. “I have my own ways of dealing with the pressure,” Samridhi admits. “I love dancing, and music. And drinking a cup of tea that my husband has prepared just makes my day.”

Navigating past obstacles in her path, including those who underestimate her, Seema Samridhi has a powerful mantra for the days when the whispers of doubt get too loud: “There is no problem for which you can’t find a solution and no person who can’t achieve something they’ve set eyes on.”