August 10, 2019
Tributes are pouring in for acclaimed legal scholar Dr Shamnad
Basheer who died on Thursday. Just 43 years old, Dr Basheer was founder of
the trust, Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education
(IDIA), which made legal education accessible for all, including students
with disabilities.
An overwhelming sense of shock and loss among the legal fraternity and
disability community over the sudden death of Dr Shamnad
Basheer. Dr Basheer, who was just 43, was found dead in his car in
central Karnataka on Thursday. He was there for a meditation retreat. Police
rule out any foul play and believe that he may have slept off in his car with
the heater on and choked to death.
As founder of Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal
Education (IDIA), Dr Basheer empowered youth from marginalised
backgrounds to take up a career in law. He was a much loved and respected
figure in the disability community as well. Along with a group of disability
activists, he is credited for one of the most progressive provisions in
copyright law. The provision allows copyrighted work to be
converted so persons with disabilities can access it without worrying about
copyright infringement.
Shampa Sengupta, the well-known disability rights activist
from Kolkata, worked with Dr Basheer on this pathbreaking campaign.
We worked together during the campaign in 2009-2010 for Copyright Amendment
so that print disabled people can access books easily. We remained in touch
after he started IDIA and worked jointly so that students with visual
impairments get equal opportunities in law education. Personally, I will
miss his long phone calls and detailed emails. We pledge to take his vision
forward towards an inclusive world. – Shampa Sengupta, Sruti
Disability Rights Centre
Although not a disabled person himself, Dr Basheer was deeply committed to
the cause of access for all and equal opportunity. “I met him for the first
time when we were presenting to Parliament on the copyright
issue”, recalled Kanchan Pamnani, a Mumbai based lawyer
who is visually impaired. Kanchan initiated and drafted a representation on
behalf of visually challenged people to the National Securities
Depository Limited and the Indian Banks
Association, which led to guidelines that have benefited the
disabled community.
Looking back to that meeting with Dr Basheer she says “he was not disabled
but had researched the subject thoroughly and had been guiding us,
strategising with us and lobbying for us in government circles and in the
legal community. One thing I still remember is how he looked at us and said
it was a great thing that the community that was most affected was leading
the fight”.
IDIA is a non profit body that trains visually impaired students but also
supports them with accessible study material, helps them out with stipends
and placements. Turab Chimthanawala, a company secretary
based in Mumbai, recounted his association with Dr Basheer on the
Access India group.
“He had very kindly arranged for Common Law Admission Test
(CLAT) preparatory material in soft copy . And then at
NALSAR University of Law, his team had arranged for students
to read to me during my first semester”, says Turab, who is partially
sighted. “Accessible study materials were easily available without us
making repeated requests/follow ups. His demise is a huge loss not only for
the disabled and legal fraternity but for India. While there are many
stalwarts, few use their intellect and outreach to impact other’s lives”.
Sentiments echoed by Rahul Bajaj, India’s first disabled
student to win the prestigious Rhodes scholarship to pursue
law from Oxford University.
“He was my foremost mentor. it is a huge personal loss. Soon before I left
for Oxford, he fondly told me that he tells everyone that I will be India’s
first visually impaired Supreme Court judge. Such was the greatness of the
man – He knew how to see the best in us all and to provide one the
encouragement to develop those facets of one’s personality.”
