Our Team
Eager to serve, Passionate to Change!
Dr Sheetal Kapoor
(she/her)
Chief Convenor- Abhayam
Faculty Coordinator
Asst. Prof. of English, AIL Mohali
Pinch of sarcasm, tonnes of humor, a basketful of cheerful innocent giggles, and a bounty of warmth- that is Dr. Sheetal Kapoor for you.
Dr. Sheetal is the founding member of 'Abhayam,' and is the one who gave it its impactful name which will etch the future of gender growth in educational institutions- not only in India but internationally.
As eloquent as a verse, she can resuscitate your 'long love lost' either with her motivational quotes, or with the mesmerising lines of the greatest writers around the world that she always remembers vividly. The secret key to her innocence is found in the classics that she maintains a profound collection of.
Come to her to take a sneak-peek at a world where still sings the mellifluous Kishore da, where still stuns the unearthly beauty of Madhubala. Be it any day, any time thereof, reveal the secrets of life with a cup of chai at Dr. Sheetal's chamber!
Dr Amrita Rathi
(she/her)
Co-Convenor- Abhayam
Faculty Co-Coordinator
Asst. Prof. of Law, AIL Mohali
Dr. Amrita Rathi is a stalwart of human rights in the campus of the Army Institute of Law, Mohali. Alluring about her is the finest balance that she maintains towards the idiosyncrasies of multi-disciplinary issues and equality. She doesn't only impart the highest values of gender justice by teaching the subject, but makes sure that she fosters within the students the zeal to take up challenging issues dealing with orthodoxy-driven, stigmatized mentality.
Dr. Amrita, back when the country was swaying in the colors of rainbow after Sec. 377 being partially read down, went on to conduct a nation-wide seminar based on 'Gender Equations in the 21st Century.' An unsolicited tad to her appreciation is that she brings out the aura of a beautiful Indian woman when she unfolds her wardrobe of saris, and gets the heads rolling!
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An empathetic person, she'd guide you through all the hurdles patiently. Dr. Amrita, lover of coffee, and teacher of spirit, is the Faculty Co-Coordinator of Abhayam!
Mr Nishant Tiwari
(he/him/his)
Student, 4th Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
To anyone who's experienced his company, Nishant comes across as a breath of fresh air. An extremely well-read and scholarly individual, he has a culture of his own. From top-notch researching, influential writing and captivating speeches to mystifying sketching, amazing photography and a really cool music playlist, he’s got it all in the kitty.
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Possessed with an eccentric fascination for beauty pageants, aviation, airport crew and dogs, he’ll open your mind to the spellbinding side of this world. He’s the ‘it’ guy to approach in precarious times. Be it late nights or early mornings, he’ll just sip a cup of coffee and you’ll have your quick fix within an hour.
A soul driven by the desire to serve humanity, he realizes the potential in every little second of life.
Being the very canvas of a rainbow, the final flourish lies in his humour and sensitivity.
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He handles the 'Garv' of Abhayam!
Ms Mehula Vats
(she/her)
Student, 4th Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
If ever you feel like talking to a person who will stand for you if she feels it right even if the world is against you, Mehula is your go-to person. She is helpful, hardworking and believes in voicing her opinion without any fear which simply adds charm to her personality.
Being the creative person that she is, she makes sure that she adds the little ‘Mehula touch’ to whatever task she takes up, making the whole task unique and more interesting. Having experienced working with a wide range of people including the minorities, this lady spares no effort to be a good ally to all the communities.
Mehula is a social person in real terms and makes sure that her social circle is diverse and more socially relevant. She is a keen learner and is always striving to improve her knowledge in order to ensure that whatever she speaks is appropriate and substantial.
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She handles the Graphics and Instagram handle (@abhayam_ail) of Abhayam!
Ms Shweta Nair
(they/them/theirs)
Student, 4th Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
The rainbow and unicorn of the team- there is never a dull moment around Shweta.
They are beautiful, charming, and most importantly, a person very well- rounded in the concepts of gender and sexuality.
They can be both- a patient listener and an eloquent speaker- and stride the stage in both capacities. An active participant of open mics, Shweta holds the reputation of stealing hearts and turning the heads when they walk across the assembly with their dark matte lipstick.
Having a creative bent of mind is just one of the interesting things about them. They are a small business owner alongside and have a marvelous taste in music. Shweta exclusively handles the Outreach vertical at Abhayam.
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TL;DR: Shweta= Absolute Joy!
Ms Akshiti Chauhan
(she/they)
Student, 1st Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
Akshiti is an amiable person who loves forging meaningful relationships. She's queer and prefers the pronouns she/they.
She can be found around the corner with a book in her hand, or caressing dogs whom she calls her "free ticket to therapy".
Akshiti has a profound knowledge of the nuances of gender, sexual orientation, intersectional feminism, and the LGBTQIA+ community. Her vision for this Centre is a safe and proactive space brimming with inclusivity and acceptance especially for women, folks of the queer community, anyone and everyone in between. You'll see her around and within the umpteen creative initiatives of this center.
Ms Anoushka
(she/her)
Student, 3rd Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
Loves to visit places, engage in ideas and live emotions through books.
Believes in the power of kindness.
Is environmentally conscious.
Has an inexplicable love for animals (but will flee if they come too close in real life)
Is convinced that Pandas (both Giant and Red) are her soulmates.
Wants to transform the world into a much more equitable, inclusive and humane place.
Ms Harmanpreet Kaur
(she/her)
Student, 2nd Year
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
If we were to put her in one sentence, Harmanpreet is Sunshine personified.
With her pocket diary in one hand and zillions of thoughts in mind, she has this impressive ability to navigate through everyone's heart and find beauty even in the mundanest/tiniest of things.
When she's not absorbed in singing her favorite verses, you'll find her engrossed in poesy and vibing with nature on fine evenings. Her commitment towards her work and delivery of duties chasing perfection is what stands her out from the crowd.
The passion with which she weaves creativity and her steadfast attitude in contributing every bit towards empowering the disenfranchised is truly commendable.
She's the epitome of positivity and heart oozing warmth and compassion is all you need in the time of distress. Tell her how depressed this world is, and she will smile gently and say, "This world just need better listeners you know."
All and all, she is a woman with strong determination and character, bringing enthusiasm wherever she goes. She is an inquisitive learner and comforting soul trying different versions of her reality to explore and create her own world full of happiness and love.
Our Former Student Convenors
Ms Aafreen Choudhary
(she/her)
Batch of 2021
Army Institute of Law, Mohali
She’s that girl that will make you smile when you want to lock yourself in a room and cry, that girl who sees through you when you plaster a smile across your face.
She’s that girl that has the courage to tell you’re not heading the wrong way and that girl who will push you to achieve your goals when you slack.
On her good days, you’ll find her in a dress with heels or a blazer with boots and on her bad days you’ll see her with a smile that lends life to the quietest of rooms.
She doesn’t just dream big she makes you want to dream bigger. Being her friend is like befriending a mirror. A mirror that will never lie to you, never mislead you. This mirror will never undervalue you and even better, will raise you in your own eyes. She’ll be the wind beneath your wings, and when you take flight, she’ll take a steady step back to show how perfectly capable you were of doing it all by yourself.
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Meet Aafreen Chaudhary.
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She handles the coordination and working of the entire team!