As part of our International Women’s Day celebrations, Ladies Who Lead hosted a special edition of Conversations Over Cocktails – an evening that brought together perspectives from jurisprudence, governance, and lived leadership.
Across two thought-provoking conversations, the stage welcomed voices representing different yet deeply interconnected sides of India’s justice ecosystem – the courtroom and the field.
First was D. Y. Chandrachud, among the most influential judicial voices of our time. Renowned for landmark constitutional judgments on the Right to Privacy (Puttaswamy), the decriminalisation of homosexuality under Section 377, the Ayodhya verdict, and the striking down of the Electoral Bond Scheme, his jurisprudence has helped redefine India’s legal thinking on civil liberties, equality, and institutional accountability.
Later in the evening, the conversation continued with Meeran Chadha Borwankar – retired IPS officer and former Director General of both the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and the Bureau of Police Research and Development (BPR&D). With more than three decades in law enforcement, she brought a deeply grounded, on-the-ground perspective to discussions on justice, policing, and governance.
While their journeys come from very different worlds, together the two conversations offered a layered view of how institutions function – from constitutional philosophy and judicial thinking to the realities of implementing law on the ground.
Here are some of the ideas that shaped the evening.
The Constitution Is The Blueprint For A Nation
Justice Chandrachud described the Constitution not merely as a legal document, but as the foundational blueprint that guides the nation’s moral and institutional direction.
In his view, cases involving freedom and personal liberty must always receive the highest priority, because they define the relationship between the citizen and the state. When courts adjudicate such questions, they are not simply resolving disputes — they are shaping the democratic character of the country itself.
Law, he emphasised, is not static. It evolves with society, responding to changing realities and expanding ideas of justice.
Rule Of Law Is Central To Development
A developed nation cannot exist without a strong culture of rule of law.
Likewise, businesses seek efficiency, predictability, and clarity in legal systems. When institutions function with discipline and transparency, they create the stability required for economic growth and social trust.
Justice Must Be Transparent
Another theme that emerged strongly was transparency.
Judicial decision-making involves complex arguments, competing interpretations, and multiple layers of constitutional reasoning. When courts communicate clearly and transparently, public trust deepens.
As Justice Chandrachud noted, the judiciary’s work naturally invites public curiosity because its decisions shape the future trajectory of society.
Opportunity Changes Everything
Dr. Borwankar reflected on how dramatically the landscape for women has evolved.
Today, women are not only entering law enforcement but serving on borders, in conflict zones, and in technologically complex defence environments. Modern warfare, she pointed out, is no longer just about physical combat – it is about technology, intelligence, and strategic thinking.
In such a landscape, the question is no longer about capability but opportunity.
When institutions open doors, women step through them and redefine what leadership looks like.
Women Must Assert Their Space
One of her most practical observations was also the simplest – women often have to ask.
Opportunities, promotions, assignments, leadership positions – these are rarely handed over automatically. Women must learn to assert their place, advocate for themselves, and claim the room they have earned.
Confidence, she emphasised, is rarely inherent. It is built gradually through experience, through learning, and through repeatedly stepping forward.
Balance Is Built Deliberately
When asked how she managed the pressures of a demanding career, Dr. Borwankar offered advice that resonated deeply with the audience.
Do not take yourself too seriously.
Maintain strong friendships with other women – those relationships provide grounding and perspective. Take annual breaks. Protect time away from work.
And perhaps most importantly, do not allow yourself to become consumed by work to the point that life disappears around it.
Leadership is sustained not by constant intensity, but by rhythm and balance.
Resilience Over Negativity
Both conversations returned repeatedly to the idea that leadership inevitably invites criticism and negativity.
The real test lies in refusing to be pulled down by it.
Whether in the courtroom or in the field, resilience – intellectual and emotional – becomes the quiet force that allows leaders to continue making difficult decisions.
Conclusion
The evening reflected the spirit of meaningful dialogue that Ladies Who Lead seeks to build.
When voices from different institutions, industries and experiences come together, the conversation expands beyond individual careers to the larger systems shaping the country.
And on International Women’s Day, that message felt especially powerful.
Because progress is rarely the result of one institution or one leader alone.
It emerges when ideas are shared, experiences are examined honestly, and the next generation is encouraged to step forward.Â