In this exclusive feature, we proudly spotlight Dr. Tamanna Khosla, a visionary leader whose dedication to innovation, education, and empowerment continues to inspire countless individuals. Known for her dynamic leadership and commitment to creating meaningful impact, Dr. Khosla has established herself as a respected voice in her field.
- Motivated you to pursue research in the field of personal laws, and what initially drew your interest to this area of study
My interest was there as I was interested in the work of legal feminists. INDIA is such a country where while inter-group equality has been addressed, issues of intra-group equality have received scant attention. Issues of personal law in India have been raised by feminists to show how multiculturalism harms women.2 Personal laws in India are one of the most complicated issues and bring out the tension between multiculturalism and feminism. Independent India opted for a model of separate personal laws for each of its religious communities. As per this model, the religious community in India governs a broad range of family law issues including marriage, divorce, maintenance, guardianship, adoption and succession. Under such a model each community is given autonomous powers to demarcate its membership boundaries and preserve its cultural distinctiveness. After independence, some scholars and many indigenous political leaders believed that a system of separate personal laws for religious minorities could be an important source of cultural autonomy in divided societies, contributing to ethnic stability and facilitating the preservation of minority cultures. On the whole this was the model to accommodate multi-culturalism and cultural diversity in India.
*How do you assess the evolving role of personal laws in addressing the social and legal realities of modern India
*Through your academic work, what key challenges have you identified in achieving a balance between cultural diversity and constitutional principles of equalityIts very difficult as right to culture has been granted to all minorities but alongside right to equality too has been granted. Now how to balance the two is key constitutional question.
*In writing your book, Personal Laws in India, what were the most important questions or concerns you sought to address
How multicultural polity like India protects women rights who too are oppressed community.
*How can academic research contribute more effectively to public discourse and policymaking on issues related to law, gender, and social justice
Legislators need to invite scholars to answer problems of family law so that neither minority rights are exploited nor women rights are abandoned.
*Looking ahead, what developments or reforms do you believe will have the greatest impact on the future of personal law and legal scholarship in India
Need for UCC and how rights of women across minority communities can be increased.