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 One experience permanently altered Chudamani Acharya's outlook on the law. "In Nepal, there was a forest that was taken care of by the people. The government, for selfish reasons, took control of the area. Seeing what was occurring, the people fought to keep their land. The police arrested many citizens and in the process, one person was killed. It became a case of humanitarianism versus individualism and an issue that needed to be dealt with appropriately." The incident motivated Chudamani to focus on public interest law.
Chudamani, a 2007-2008 PILI Fellow, works in a private law firm. During his extensive legal career in Nepal, Chudamani has served as the president of his local bar association, vice president of the Nepal Bar Association, a member of its central committee, and chairman of the Human Rights Alliance Nepal. Considering the current political situation in Nepal, Chudamani believes that there is no better time for NGOs to gain a foothold in the country, allowing human rights ideals to be fostered.
"Now internal conflicts are going on within Nepal. Over 1,300 people have died or disappeared with many people's private properties being taken away. The Maoists within the country are also rendering the constitution nearly useless." For Chudamani, the important issue facing Nepal is the question of how to manage and address victims of the nation's rough transition in addition to the issue of determining the guiding principles of Nepal's social and political transition more broadly.
Chudamani's PILI fellowship research project tackled these questions head on. His project focuses on the daunting task of improving Nepal's beleaguered justice system. In particular, Chudamani hopes to establish an equitable way for victims of the nation's transition to seek justice while encouraging reconciliation with those who may have committed human rights abuses. Ultimately, his program tries to find the best way for Nepal to move toward a strong government and civil society.
During our interview, Chudamani noted that many aspects of his project stem from the guidance he received while being a PILI fellow. "PILI gives us the tools to create and implement a real program. We build on sound experiences and sound answers." For Chudamani, "PILI is the epitome of positive globalization." Chudamani strongly believes that more programs are needed in order to transform young lawyers into leaders within their respective countries.
For Chudamani, bringing such talented minds together will prove crucial for motivating a new generation of public interest lawyers around the globe. "PILI is an umbrella organization that allows motivated people to design projects for the future. Therefore, PILI has the capacity to mobilize the future." Grateful for the experiences that the PILI fellowship has opened to him, Chudamani is confident that the organization will continue to foster invaluable cooperation between diverse cultures and nations.
For more information about the PILI Fellowship program, click here.
By Stacy Bertrand and David Smart, PILI Interns (2008)
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