Manjula Pradeep was born in Western India to a Dalit family, a community considered to be on the lowest rung of the caste ladder. Growing up she experienced discrimination and indignity because of her background, but she excelled at school, and managed to defy expectations to become a lawyer and high-profile activist. Now she's helping Dalit rape survivors get access to justice. Manjula spoke to Divya Arya.

Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com

Presenter: Emily Webb 
Producer: Harry Graham

Picture: Manjula Pradeep
Credit: BBC/Divya Arya

Manjula Pradeep was born in Western India to a Dalit family, a community considered to be on the lowest rung of the caste ladder. Growing up she experienced discrimination and indignity because of her background, but she excelled at school, and managed to defy expectations to become a lawyer and high-profile activist. Now she's helping Dalit rape survivors get access to justice. Manjula spoke to Divya Arya. Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com Presenter: Emily Webb Producer: Harry Graham Picture: Manjula Pradeep Credit: BBC/Divya Arya

"I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

<p>Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. 
 
Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. 
 
Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. </p><p>Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years.
 
Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784
 
You can read our privacy notice here:
https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice</p>

Society & Culture

Documentary

Personal Journals

Lives Less Ordinary is a podcast from the BBC World Service that brings you the most incredible true stories from around the world. Step into someone else’s life and expect the unexpected. Each episode a guest shares their most dramatic, moving, personal story. Listen for unbelievable twists, mysteries uncovered, and inspiring journeys - spanning the entire human experience. Our guests come from every corner of the globe: from Burundi to Beverly Hills, New Zealand to North Korea, Rajasthan to Rio. And their stories can be about anything: tales of survival, humour, resilience and intrigue. From the mind-blowing account of the Japanese man trapped in his own reality TV show, to the Swedish women rescued from lions by a tin of spam. It’s life’s wild side, in stereo. Lives Less Ordinary is brought to you by the team behind Outlook, the home of true life storytelling on BBC World Service radio for nearly 60 years. Got a story to tell? Send an email to liveslessordinary@bbc.co.uk or message us via WhatsApp: 0044 330 678 2784 You can read our privacy notice here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/5YD3hBqmw26B8WMHt6GkQxG/lives-less-ordinary-privacy-notice

Share "I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

Sign up to save your podcasts

"I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

"I'm a fighter": The Dalit lawyer taking on the caste system

More shows like Lives Less Ordinary

Global News Podcast

The Archers

Newshour

In Our Time

The Documentary Podcast

Witness History

The History Hour

6 Minute English

Learning English Conversations

The Infinite Monkey Cage

Desert Island Discs

The Inquiry

The Audio Long Read

All in the Mind

People Fixing the World

You're Dead to Me

The Slow Newscast

The Bomb

Life Changing

History's Heroes

World of Secrets

The Birth Keepers | The Guardian Investigates

The History Podcast

Strangers on a Bench