Manasi Chaudhari’s 'Legally Yours' is a practical handbook for every woman to know her legal rights

When Manasi Chaudhari was in law school, she would visit several NGOs to offer legal aid to women. 

During these visits as a third-year law student, she realised that India had strong laws for women, but most women were unaware of their legal rights.

“I had started toying with the idea of building a simple platform where women can understand all their legal rights in a simple and easy manner, in one place,” Chaudhari tells HerStory.

The idea remained in the back of her mind until she faced harassment by two men, when their cars bumped into each other at a traffic signal in Hyderabad. 

“They were extremely aggressive, banging on my bonnet, breaking my side-view mirrors and blocking my car. All this at 10pm, when I was alone,” she recalls. 

The next day, she decided to file a police complaint. 

“Walking into the police station for the first time in my life was quite intimidating. The only thing that gave me the strength to file that complaint was the fact that, as a lawyer, I knew my rights and the process that the police were supposed to follow,” she says.

That day, she realised how daunting it can be for women with no legal background to take the most basic step towards standing up for their rights. And this is how her platform Pink Legal was born. Pink Legal is a platform dedicated to women’s rights and women’s laws in India.

 “The work that Pink Legal does became widely recognised and soon, it was discovered by HarperCollins, which led to Legally Yours,” she says.

A simple guide to legal rights for women

Legally Yours - Every Woman’s Guide to Her Legal Rights is a simple and accessible guide to all laws pertaining to women in India. 

Written in a simple but affirmative style, it provides real-life examples, practical advice, and actionable legal remedies for women. It covers the entire gamut of legal rights for women—from reproductive rights, domestic abuse, and workplace harassment to marriage, cyber safety and more.

The idea behind Legally Yours is to empower every single woman in India, regardless of her age or background, by helping her understand her legal rights, Chaudhari emphasises. 

“I have written the book in a way that a lawyer-best friend is talking to you and explaining your rights. It is full of examples from pop culture, real-life cases, along with interactive elements like quizzes and food for thought,” she adds.

One rule of thumb that she diligently followed was that no one should have to re-read a page to understand what it's saying. Hence, she circulated portions of the draft with women from different walks of life and extensively took feedback to ensure that the book does not get dense or heavy at any point. 

Where women hesitate to seek legal help

According to Chaudhari, the top three instances where women often hesitate to seek legal help are cyberbullying, domestic violence, and sexual assault, with domestic violence topping the list. 

“Most women (even educated ones) face some or the other form of it ( domestic violence). However, they hesitate to stand up against it due to the social taboo of complaining against one's family members/in-laws, lack of financial independence, and lack of a support system,” she shares.

Chaudhari believes it’s important to bust the common legal misconceptions women in India have about their rights.

“Many women believe that it is compulsory to stay with in-laws after marriage or that they have to change their surname! There is no such law in India that requires any of the above. There is also a misconception that domestic violence means only physical abuse. Most women are not aware that it even includes mental, sexual, and financial abuse,” she elaborates. 

This misconception comes from a lack of financial independence and a support system that prevents them from seeking help when they face abuse within their homes, families, and marriage. For issues like sexual harassment and cyber bullying, lack of legal awareness on how to approach the legal system coupled with lack of faith in the police and court systems in India deter women from filing a complaint. 

To this end, Legally Yours breaks down complex laws in every sphere of a woman’s life. It also walks women through the step-by-step process of filing a complaint or appointing a lawyer. 

Chaudhari has also provided insights into how women can protect themselves in the online world of constant abuse, cyberbullying, and deepfakes. 

“Firstly, if someone tries to harass you online, collect all evidence by taking screenshots, screen-recordings, etc. Second, report the harassment to the platform on which it is happening. Third, you can approach the cyber crime cell of your city or a regular police station to file a complaint against the harassment,” she explains.

Chaudhari also recommends adjusting the settings of profiles to restrict access and limit comments, using screenshot-free apps when sharing private pictures or content, and blocking any trolls who try to rob your peace of mind—all this on a day-to-day basis.

Legal system and gender justice

Chaudhari notes that the Indian legal system is making sporadic progress towards being more gender sensitive, through an ad hoc judgment here or there (like the Supreme Court judgment that said that childcare leave is also a part of fundamental rights). 

“However, most of the time, these rights end up only on paper and don't translate to real-life empowerment. Tomorrow, a working woman is not going to be able to seek childcare leave from her employer simply based on a Supreme Court judgment,” she points out.

She stresses the need for better implementation of laws where there is a proper recourse that women can take to file a complaint or seek redressal. 

“Once a complaint goes into the Bermuda Triangle of the legal system, it gets stuck and delayed endlessly, deterring most people from even trying to get justice. 

“Also, the police and judicial authorities should create an environment of trust and transparency when dealing with complaints, so that not just women, but every common citizen feels comfortable enough to approach the forums that are supposed to protect our rights.”

What’s one piece of advice she would give every woman in India regarding her legal rights?

“Stand up for your rights as soon as possible and don't wait till it's too late or you have suffered too much. When it comes to legal rights, a stitch in time saves nine,” says Chaudhari.