Teaching to fight terror
Kirthi Jayakumar
Dr Geeta Madhavan is the
country's first woman Ph.D. in
Law on international terrorism.
Dr Geeta Madhavan's
class is usually
packed to capacity:
just as it was when I
was a student,
hanging onto her
every word. She was my first
initiation into law - and continues to
be the same for many, many
aspirants in the field. But here's
what's different about her. Dr
Madhavan, the country's first
woman PhD in Law on International
Terrorism, likes to teach as well as
take on the giants – think nations
fighting it out over land; think
terrorism and attempts to punish it
with legalese; think laws governing
the high seas…
When she had decided to focus
her research study on international
terrorism way back in the late
1980s, everyone had been
surprised; after all, this wasn't
something that India was
contending with at the time. Two
decades later, she is one of the
select few lawyers who have an indepth
understanding of terrorism,
maritime laws, extradition, human
rights and refugees rehabilitation.
Madhavan always loved history;
she grew up reading about the
two World Wars and their
aftermath. That paved the way for a
keen interest in international law.
"After completing my
undergraduate studies in English
Literature, I opted to do law
as my ambition was to pursue a
career in the Foreign Service. It
was a dream nurtured by my father right from my school days.
However, while pursuing my LLB
degree in Bangalore I became
completely hooked to studying law;
international law in particular.
Eventually, although I did sit for the
Civil Services exam, I also became
an advocate and set up my practice
at the Madras High Court. As the
same time, I signed up for ML in
International Law at the Madras
University. It was while I was
working on my dissertation topic,
international drug trafficking and
control, that I came across
terrorism," she reveals, during a
free-wheeling chat.
In those days, she may have read
about the spread of violence and
terrorism in Ireland and Palestine
but this phenomenon instantly
grabbed Madhavan's attention. "It was happening in places far away
from India and there was no real
interest here around this, but I did
want to know more and so I went on
reading about it. I clearly remember
that it was only after the
assassination of Rajeev Gandhi in
1991 that we started giving greater
importance to international
terrorism. This tragedy marked the
entry of international terror in the
country. The little work done on the
subject and the meagre material
After her "path-breaking"
research at home, she
steadily gained a
reputation abroad as well.
In fact, after the
devastating 9/11 terror
attacks her opinion as an
"an expert on international
terrorism" was sought by
several international
television channels and
other news outlets. "Since
then, I have been
travelling, writing on
terrorism and its various
aspects. Later, I
established a very
successful think tank in
Chennai as well," she
shares.
available on it motivated me to
delve deeper and I decided to do my
doctorate in it," she elaborates.
Having chosen what most
considered an "off-beat path"
Madhavan's choice left many
surprised, "Several people advised me to do a PhD on something that
would be monetarily beneficial but
my heart was set on pursuing this
significant issue."
As a foremost expert on international terror Dr Geeta
Madhavan's expert opinion is sought on various panels and
working groups preparing policy papers on counter-terrorism,
piracy and extremism.
Her detailed research and
writings were very well-received. In
1997, she was conferred with an
award from The Hague Academy of
International Law for her Advanced
Doctoral Research. "I was the only
Asian to have got this honour that
year and one among three in the
world. After years of hard work,
even as I ran a home, looked after
my little son and taught as a guest
faculty for the ML
students in the
International Law
department at the
Madras University,
I received my PhD
in 2000," she recalls
with a smile.
After her "pathbreaking"
research
at home, she
steadily gained a
reputation abroad
as well. In fact,
after the
devastating 9/11
terror attacks her
opinion as an "an
expert on
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
terrorism" was
sought by several
i n t e r n a t i o n a l
television channels
and other news outlets. "Since then,
I have been travelling, writing on
terrorism and its various aspects.
Later, I established a very successful
think tank in Chennai as well," she
shares.
In time, India's unique
geographical position and its
strategic importance in the Indian
Ocean region also drew Madhavan
to explore the maritime threats
before the country. With our long
and vulnerable coastline, I felt a
shift in terrorism from the seas was
inevitable. Unfortunately, these
fears came true with the 26/11
assault. Today, I'm always on the job as terrorism has become virulent;
hardly any nation has been left
untouched," she points out.
Apart from conducting her own
research, Madhavan is committed to
passing on her knowledge and
encouraging young people to take
up a career in law. She painstakingly
trains young people, giving them
copious reading materials besides
holding long-drawn interactive
sessions – things that she had found
lacking when she was in their place.
She shares, "I have a passion for the
law and I got into teaching it because of it. When someone
reaches out to me to study I feel it's
my duty to make it worth their
while. Teaching post graduate law
students at the Tamil Nadu Dr
Ambedkar Law University is very
fulfilling. I am proud to say that
many of my students are in leading
legal institutions in India and across
the globe."
Between her home, her teaching
assignment and her work as an
extraordinary expert on a threat
that has changed the way the world
lives today and perceives violence
and security, Madhavan has to
maintain a delicate balance, one she has been able to strike thanks to her
family's staunch support.
"The last eight years have been
extremely hectic. I have been a part
of several international working
groups, preparing policy papers on
varied subjects related to terrorism
and maritime issues including
counter terrorism, piracy and
extremism. Balancing home and
work and travel has always been
tough but it's also been very
enjoyable because I am passionate
about what I do. My husband has
been extremely supportive, not only in keeping things
going at home
while I am away
but also standing
by me when I'm
overwhelmed with
work. I think if one
has a spouse who
takes pride in your
work then your
journey becomes
that much easier
and rewarding,"
she says.
Of course, her
packed schedule
doesn't keep her
away from her
interests, "I write
poetry and enjoy
b l o g g i n g
whenever I can!"
Incidentally, these
days, she is
putting together her collection of
poems besides a book on terrorism,
both of which are slated to be
published by the end of this year.
Ask Madhavan if she has any
words of advice for those who may
aspire to follow in her footsteps, and
she keeps it simple. "Find your
niche: whatever it maybe, not just
law – dance, music, art, tatting,
crochet – anything! And once you
have that figured out, focus on it
with all your heart. There is no point
doing anything that does not give
you happiness. Pursue your passion,
and everything else will follow!"
(WFS)