Brought up in the suburbs of Mumbai, protected by the four walls of comfort, I never thought of life that existed on the other side. I was a second-year BLS/LLB student, and it was time for me to do an internship. Thus began the search. Turning one web page after the other, I finally stumbled upon a page that read Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), and applied for the internship. I received a confirmation email for an interview within two days. In the interview, I did the one thing I knew best — answered all the questions honestly. Within two weeks, I received an offer for internship.
Through all the hustle and bustle of the Mumbai local, I reached the HRLN office. I was assigned to the disability rights team. Not too long after I started work, on the third day, I had a nervous breakdown — I couldn’t cope with the 9:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m. life. My mother motivated me to try a day longer, as I had worked hard to get the internship. I had come so far, I couldn’t just give up. I never looked back after that day. The hustling trains didn’t bother me anymore; a new journey of enlightenment had begun.
Experiences that matter
The will and the determination of my mentor, in spite of his physical disabilities, inspired me. I assisted him in various court meetings, and in writing a comparative analysis on Rights Of Persons With Disabilities Act, 2016, and on Persons With Disabilities Act, 1995. In the two days it took me to fetch an order copy from the sessions court, I learnt how things functioned. The real world outside the law school is much different than what books prepare us for. Along with working for disability rights, I also got to file RTIs and petitions on them in the High Court. I also got an opportunity to work on women-related cases and visit the Juvenile Justice Board for child matters. I attended various events such as TogetherVCAN’s Social Sanchar with Mr. S.Kshatriya — Maharashtra’s first ever Chief Commissioner under the newly instituted Right To Service Act. HRLN held talks on world issues giving everyone an opportunity to learn. When you like your job, time flies, and so did my six weeks which changed my life forever.
The long hours and disciplined environment might frighten you, but HRLN is the place to learn. It taught me that beyond the shining corporate life, there lies a society which is in desperate need of help. It taught me to be compassionate towards the needy, and most importantly, I learnt to give back to society. When the going gets tough, the tough get going. So, don’t shy away from stepping out of your comfort zone because this world has a lot to offer.
Nabhali Mhatre, is a third-year BLS/LLB student at Pravin Gandhi College of Law, and interned at Human Rights Law Network (HRLN), Mumbai.
Courtesy: internshala.com