Priya Ramani
{{short description|Indian Journalist}}
{{use dmy dates|date=January 2021}}
{{Infobox person
| name = Priya Ramani
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| caption = Priya Ramani in Bangalore
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| occupation = Journalist, editor
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| title = Editor at large, Juggernaut Books
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| spouse = Samar Halarnkar
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Priya Ramani is an Indian journalist, writer, and editor. In October 2018, during the Me Too movement in India, Ramani alleged sexual harassment against now-former Minister of State for External Affairs M.J. Akbar, and in February 2021, Ramani was acquitted in the criminal defamation case Akbar had filed against her. In October 2020, Ramani co-created the India Love Project on Instagram.
Career
Ramani began working at The Asian Age in 1994, then Reuters, Elle, India Today, Cosmopolitan magazine and Mint Lounge.{{cite web|url=https://thewire.in/law/priya-ramani-mj-akbar-defamation-case-metoo |title='Silence Wouldn't Have Been Right': Priya Ramani Tells Court in M.J. Akbar Case |first=Anoo |last=Bhuyan |website=thewire.in|date=9 September 2019|accessdate=29 November 2020}} Ramani has also written for Livemint,{{cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/Search/Link/Author/Priya-Ramani |title=Priya Ramani |website=livemint.com}} Indian Express,{{cite web|url=https://www.medianama.com/2016/01/223-juggernaut-books-appoints-priya-ramani-as-editor-at-large/ |title=Juggernaut Books appoints Priya Ramani as editor at large |first=Vivek |last=Pai |date=4 January 2016 |accessdate=29 November 2020}} and Vogue India.{{cite news |title=Priya Ramani |url=https://www.vogue.in/author/Priya-Ramani |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Vogue India}} Ramani led Mint Lounge for eight years. She is an editor at large at Juggernaut Books for its digital properties. Ramani also serves as an editorial board member of Article 14, a website about the rule of law in India.
=''Vogue India''=
On 12 October 2017, Vogue India published an article by Ramani titled "To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world," that was styled as an open letter, beginning with "Dear Male Boss"{{cite news |last1=Ramani |first1=Priya |title=To the Harvey Weinsteins of the world |url=https://www.vogue.in/content/harvey-weinsteins-open-letter-sexual-harassment |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Vogue India |date=12 October 2017}} and including a description of sexual harassment during a job interview in a Mumbai hotel room when she was 23 years old.{{cite news |last1=Suri |first1=Manveena |title=India's #MeToo moment? Media and entertainment industry shaken by allegations |url=https://edition.cnn.com/2018/10/10/asia/india-metoo-intl/index.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=19 October 2018}} In the article, Ramani did not name the person who interviewed her.
#MeToo
In October 2018, Ramani made the allegation of sexual harassment against now-former Union minister and veteran journalist M.J. Akbar on Twitter in a tweet during the #MeToo movement. On 8 October 2018, Ramani tweeted with a reference to her 2017 Vogue India piece, stating "I began this piece with my MJ Akbar story. Never named him because he didn’t "do" anything. Lots of women have worse stories about this predator—maybe they'll share." Soon after Ramani's tweets, more women accused Akbar of sexual misconduct during his career as a journalist.{{cite web|url=https://scroll.in/latest/972332/mj-akbar-defamation-case-priya-ramani-says-disclosure-of-sexual-harassment-was-for-public-good |title=MJ Akbar defamation case: Priya Ramani says disclosure of sexual harassment was for 'public good' |website=scroll.in |date=6 September 2020 |accessdate=30 November 2020}}
Criminal defamation case
=Filing=
M.J. Akbar filed a criminal defamation case against Ramani on 15 October 2018, and resigned as Minister of State for External Affairs on 17 October 2018;{{cite news |last1=FP Staff |title=live #MeToo; MJ Akbar defamation case hearing updates: Delhi court's next hearing on 31 Oct, ex-minister to be present |url=https://www.firstpost.com/india/metoo-mj-akbar-defamation-case-hearing-live-updates-delhi-courts-next-hearing-on-31-oct-ex-minister-told-to-be-present-5399741.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Firstpost |date=18 October 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Gupta |first1=Swati |title=Indian minister MJ Akbar resigns amid sexual assault allegations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2018/10/17/asia/mj-akbar-resignation-metoo-india-intl/index.html |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=18 October 2018}} at the time, The New York Times described Akbar as "the most prominent figure so far to be felled by the #MeToo movement sweeping the world's largest democracy."{{cite news |last1=Abi-Habib |first1=Maria |last2=Goel |first2=Vindu |title=A Top Indian Minister Resigns, but Can #MeToo Reform Government? |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/17/world/asia/india-mj-akbar-resigns-metoo.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The New York Times |date=17 October 2018}} Bhawana Bisht, writing for SheThePeople.TV, described the case against Ramani as an example of a SLAPP lawsuit and "a way to drag the women to court and intimidate them until they withdraw."{{cite web |last1=Bisht |first1=Bhawana |title=There Is A History Of Using SLAPP Suits To Silence Women |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/news/there-is-a-history-of-using-slapp-suits-to-silence-women/ |website=SheThePeople.TV |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=20 October 2018}} Ramani pleaded not guilty, and faced a prison sentence up to two years.{{cite news |last1=Dutt |first1=Barkha |title=An Indian minister accused of sexual abuse should have been sacked. Instead, he wants to punish women. |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/global-opinions/wp/2018/10/15/an-indian-minister-accused-of-sexual-abuse-should-have-been-sacked-instead-he-wants-to-punish-women/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=16 October 2018}}
=Court process=
In January 2019, Ramani was summoned to court,{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=MJ Akbar defamation case: Delhi court issues summons to journalist Priya Ramani |url=https://scroll.in/latest/911254/mj-akbar-defamation-case-delhi-court-issues-summons-to-journalist-priya-ramani |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Scroll.in |date=29 January 2019}} and in February, granted bail on a personal bond of Rs 10,000. In June, CNN described Ramani's case as one of two "high-profile criminal defamation cases [that] have recently shaken the country’s #MeToo movement."{{cite news |last1=Fox |first1=Kara |last2=Crouin |first2=Antoine |title=Men are suing women who accused them of harassment. Will it stop others from speaking out? |url=https://www.cnn.com/2019/06/05/europe/metoo-defamation-trials-sandra-muller-france-intl/index.html |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=CNN |date=5 June 2019}} Senior Advocate Rebecca Mammen John represented Ramani, and in September 2020, John told the court, "A true imputation made in the public good is not defamation... it is not defamation to make an imputation on the character of another when it is made in good faith for the protection of his or other's interest."{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=Disclosure Of Sexual Harassment Was For Public Good, Priya Ramani Tells Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/metoo-movement-journalist-priya-ramani-tells-court-disclosure-of-sexual-harassment-was-for-public-good-2290978 |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=NDTV |date=5 September 2020}} John also said, "Priya Ramani's alleged defamatory tweets and the Vogue article were her truth. I am saying this is my (Ramani's) truth... it is the truth, is in good faith, touching public good."
Ramani told the court on 7 September 2020, "It was my hope that the disclosures, which were part of #MeToo, would empower women to speak up for their rights at the workplace. This case has come at great personal cost to me. I had nothing to gain from it. I am a very well regarded journalist. I live a quiet life with my family in Bangalore," and "By keeping silent, I could have avoided the subsequent targeting. But that wouldn’t have been the right thing to do."
On 19 September, John asserted the critical importance of freedom of speech and expression to a democracy, and said Ramani was a "small part" of the larger #MeToo movement.{{cite news |last1=Venkatesan |first1=V. |title=Something More Than Meets the Eye as M.J. Akbar Case Against Priya Ramani Set to Shift Courts |url=https://thewire.in/law/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-defamation-jurisdiction |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Wire |date=13 October 2020}} John also argued that Ramani's allegation of sexual harassment was supported by other women who made similar allegations against Akbar, including journalist Ghazala Wahab.{{cite news |last1=NH Web Desk |title='I deserve to be acquitted': Submissions on Priya Ramani's behalf conclude in MJ Akbar's defamation case |url=https://www.nationalheraldindia.com/india/i-deserve-to-be-acquitted-submissions-on-priya-ramanis-behalf-conclude-in-mj-akbars-defamation-case |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=National Herald |date=19 September 2020}} John concluded with a reference to a Ruth Bader Ginsburg quote and said that the #MeToo Movement began to correct a "structural wrong."{{cite news |last1=Saran |first1=Mekhala |title=MJ Akbar-Priya Ramani Case: John Quotes Ginsburg in Final Argument |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/gender/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-case-rebecca-john-concludes-final-arguments |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=The Quint |publisher=Bloomberg |date=19 September 2020}} After John completed her presentation, and before Akbar's senior advocate Geeta Luthra was to begin, the court decided to transfer the case to another court in what was described as a "controversial" transfer. On 22 October, the case was sent back to the court.{{cite news |last1=Press Trust India |title=#MeToo: M.J. Akbar's Defamation Case Against Priya Ramani Sent to Same Judge |url=https://thewire.in/law/metoo-m-j-akbars-defamation-case-against-priya-ramani-sent-to-same-judge |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Wire |date=23 October 2020}}
In November 2020, Senior Advocate Geeta Luthra submitted to the court on behalf of Akbar that Ramani made the statements out of vengeance, not the public good, and Ramani failed to produce evidence of her allegations and failed to apologize for the statements.{{cite news |last1=Press Trust India |title=#MeToo: Priya Ramani made 'defamatory' statement out of vengeance, Akbar tells court |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Delhi/metoo-priya-ramani-made-defamatory-statement-out-of-vengeance-akbar-tells-court/article33066343.ece |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Hindu |date=10 November 2020}} On 21 November 2020, the court asked Ramani and Akbar to consider a settlement of the case.{{cite news |last1=Mohan |first1=Anand |title=MJ Akbar vs Priya Ramani: New judge urges both sides to consider settlement of defamation case |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-defamation-case-settlement-7060134/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Indian Express |date=21 November 2020}} On 24 November 2020, John informed the court on behalf of Ramani that there was no chance of a settlement.{{cite news |title=Journalist Priya Ramani says she stands with her statement, no chance of settlement |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/journalist-priya-ramani-says-she-stands-with-her-statement-no-chance-of-settlement20201124222031/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Asian News International |date=24 November 2020}} Due to a transfer of judges, the matter would now be heard again before the new judge.
On 10 December 2020, John told the court that workplace sexual harassment is a "matter of public interest" that "has been recognized as a violation of the fundamental rights of women."{{cite news |title=MeToo: M J Akbar 'deliberately', 'mischievously' misread her article, Ramani tells court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/metoo-m-j-akbar-deliberatelymischievously-misread-her-article-ramani-tells-court-7099984/ |access-date=23 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |agency=Press Trust of India |date=10 December 2020}} On 14 December, Ramani submitted to the court through John that "#MeToo came to India in 2018. It wasn't a crime to speak up on the #MeToo platform. These are acts of extreme courage that require celebration. These are not acts for which one should face defamation."{{cite news |last1=Asian News International |title=Speaking on MeToo act of courage, not defamation: Priya Ramani tells court |url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/speaking-on-metoo-act-of-courage-not-defamation-priya-ramani-tells-court20201214173026/ |access-date=20 December 2020 |date=14 December 2020}}
On 18 December 2020, Ramani alleged in court through John that Akbar did not approach the court with clean hands.{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=MeToo: M J Akbar did not approach court with clean hands, says Priya Ramani |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/18/metoo-m-j-akbar-did-not-approach-court-with-clean-hands-says-priya-ramani-2238051.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |date=18 December 2020}} Over 20 women have alleged sexual harassment by Akbar while they were working as journalists under him, and John told the court that Ramani was not the first to tweet against Akbar: "Several women had tweeted. Ghazala Wahab tweeted two days before. Shunali Khullar Shroff and Prerna Singh Bhindra tweeted before her." John said 15 women had accused Akbar of sexual harassment by the time he filed the case against Ramani in October 2018, and Akbar "played a fraud" by failing to mention the other accusations against him when he filed and then claiming that only Ramani's statement defamed him.{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=MJ Akbar played fraud on court by hiding other sexual harassment allegations: Priya Ramani's lawyer |url=https://scroll.in/latest/981749/mj-akbar-played-fraud-on-court-by-hiding-other-sexual-harassment-allegations-priya-ramanis-lawyer |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Scroll.in |date=18 December 2020}}
On 22 December 2020, Luthra told the court, "People on responsible position like journalists should not make such allegations on social media. They should come to court instead."{{cite news |last1=Press Trust of India |title=Ramani should have taken recourse to law, not social media allegations, Akbar tells court |url=https://www.tribuneindia.com/news/nation/ramani-should-have-taken-recourse-to-law-not-social-media-allegations-akbar-tells-court-187981 |access-date=26 December 2020 |work=The Tribune |date=22 December 2020}}{{cite web |title=MJ Akbar v. Priya Ramani: Live Updates from the final hearings before Delhi Court |url=https://www.barandbench.com/news/litigation/akbar-v-ramani-rouse-avenue-live-dec-22 |website=Bar and Bench |access-date=25 December 2020 |date=22 December 2020}} On 24 December, in court, Akbar denied meeting Ramani in the hotel where she alleged the sexual harassment happened.{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=#MeToo: MJ Akbar tells court no meeting with Priya Ramani in hotel |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/dec/24/metoo-mj-akbar-tells-court-no-meeting-with-priya-ramani-in-hotel-2240648.html |access-date=25 December 2020 |work=The New Indian Express |date=24 December 2020}} On 4 January 2021, Luthra stated in court that "without any investigation or basis," Ramani referred to Akbar as "media's biggest sexual predator" in a tweet about Akbar's resignation.{{cite news |last1=Scroll Staff |title=Priya Ramani case: MJ Akbar tells Delhi court he was labelled sexual predator 'without any basis' |url=https://scroll.in/latest/983116/priya-ramani-case-mj-akbar-tells-delhi-court-he-was-labelled-sexual-predator-without-any-basis |access-date=5 January 2021 |work=Scroll.in |date=4 January 2021}} On 18 January, in response to Ramani's point about the other allegtions made against Akbar, Luthra told the court, "Harm is done by the man who instigates and ignites the flame first."{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=#MeToo: Priya Ramani ignited flame to harm his reputation, M J Akbar tells court |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/india/metoo-ramani-ignited-flame-to-harm-his-reputation-akbar-tells-court-7151356/ |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=The Indian Express |agency=Press Trust of India |date=18 January 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Priyadarshini |first1=Anna |title=Priya Ramani's Vogue article about sexual harassment is 'fictitious', MJ Akbar's lawyer |url=https://www.newslaundry.com/2021/01/18/priya-ramanis-vogue-article-about-sexual-harassment-is-fictitious-mj-akbars-lawyer |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=Newslaundry |date=18 January 2021}} On 21 January, Luthra told the court that Ramani's deletion of her own Twitter account before cross-examination was deliberate and intended "to subserve the cause of justice."{{cite news |last1=PTI |title=Priya Ramani Deleting Twitter Account Merits Another Case: MJ Akbar To Court |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/priya-ramani-deleting-twitter-account-merits-another-case-mj-akbar-to-court-2355973 |access-date=22 January 2021 |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |date=21 January 2021}}
Ramani's counsel Rebecca John began final arguments on 27 January 2021, stating Akbar's arguments do not make sense based on a plain reading of Ramani's Vogue article, and that the testimony of Ghazala Wahab, who has accused Akbar of sexual assault, as well as a Firstpost article introduced by Akbar's legal team that provided details of allegations against Akbar, were relevant support for Ramani's reference to Akbar as a 'predator.'{{cite news |last1=Sachdev |first1=Vakasha |title='Truth is Painful': Akbar-Priya Ramani Defamation Trial Nears End |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/truth-is-painful-mj-akbar-priya-ramani-criminal-defamation-case-hearing-key-arguments |access-date=31 January 2021 |work=The Quint |date=28 January 2021}} On 1 February, John continued to address Luthra's arguments, including about Ramani's Twitter account, noting it had only been deactivated, not deleted, and Akbar had never filed a request and the court had not required reactivation of the accourt.{{cite news |last1=Thapliyal |first1=Nupur |title='Akbar Went After Ramani As She Was A Soft Target & Did Not Go After Other Women As He Was Afraid' : Rebecca John Argues On Final Day |url=https://livelaw.in/news-updates/criminal-defamation-mj-akbar-priya-ramani-rebecca-john-final-arguments-169241 |access-date=10 February 2021 |work=LiveLaw.in |date=1 February 2021}} During the final argument, John submitted to the court, "Mr. Akbar went after Ms. Ramani as she was a soft target and did not go after other women because he was afraid."
=Verdict=
On 17 February 2021, the court dismissed the complaint against Ramani, stating the charges had not been proven.{{cite news |last1=All India |title="Ray Of Hope": Bollywood Celebrates Priya Ramani's Acquittal In Defamation Case |url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ray-of-hope-bollywood-celebrates-priya-ramanis-acquittal-in-defamation-case-2372720 |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=NDTV |agency=Press Trust of India |date=17 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Saran |first1=Mekhala |last2=Tripathi |first2=Karan |title=Not So 'Stellar' After All: Court Acquits Ramani in MJ Akbar Case |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/law/delhi-court-verdict-metoo-judgment-in-mj-akbars-defamation-case-against-priya-ramani |access-date=17 February 2021 |work=The Quint |date=17 February 2021}} In the ruling, Judge Ravindra Kumar Pandey wrote, "Despite how well respected some persons are in the society, they in their personal lives, could show extreme cruelty to the females," and "The time has come for our society to understand the sexual abuse and sexual harassment and its implications on victims."{{cite news |last1=Mitra |first1=Esha |last2=Yeung |first2=Jessie |last3=Suri |first3=Manveena |title=Indian court rules in favor of female journalist sued for defamation over sexual harassment allegations |url=https://www.cnn.com/2021/02/18/india/india-priya-ramani-defamation-case-intl-hnk/index.html |access-date=23 February 2021 |work=CNN |date=18 February 2021}} Pandey continued, "The woman cannot be punished for raising (her) voice against the sex abuse on the pretext of criminal complaint of defamation, as the right of reputation cannot be protected at the cost of the right of life and dignity of woman as guaranteed in the Indian Constitution."{{cite news |last1=Kothari |first1=Jayna |title=Priya Ramani verdict has expanded the law on sexual harassment |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/priya-ramani-verdict-has-expanded-the-law-on-sexual-harassment-7201745/ |access-date=26 February 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=24 February 2021}}
After the verdict, Ramani stated it "feels great to have your truth validated before court," and "It feels amazing, truly does. I feel vindicated on behalf of all the women who have ever spoken out against sexual harassment at work place. It was me, the victim, who had to stand up in the court as an accused. I thank everyone who stood by me, especially my witnesses Ghazala Wahab and Niloufer Venkatraman, who came to the court and testified on my behalf," and she thanked her lawyer Rebecca Mammen John and her legal team. Activists and lawyers also praised the verdict.{{cite news |title=Verdict in Priya Ramani case will give more women courage to speak up against abuse: Activists |url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/verdict-in-priya-ramani-case-will-give-more-women-courage-to-speak-up-against-abuse-activists/articleshow/81063674.cms |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=The Economic Times |agency=Press Trust of India |date=17 February 2021}}{{cite news |last1=Srinivasan |first1=Rama |title=Priya Ramani acquittal opens new paths for Indian feminist movement |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/opinion/columns/priya-ramani-verdict-m-j-akbar-sexual-harrasment-metoo-movement-7210189/ |access-date=2 March 2021 |work=The Indian Express |date=2 March 2021}} Sowmya Rajendran described Ramani as a "trailblazer", and wrote "because of her courage, there will be many more women who come after her, who will believe in their right to speak and be heard, too."{{cite news |last1=Rajendran |first1=Sowmya |title=Priya Ramani is a trailblazer and her victory matters to all of us |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/article/priya-ramani-trailblazer-and-her-victory-matters-all-us-143629 |access-date=29 July 2022 |work=The News Minute |date=17 February 2021}}
=Appeal=
On 11 August 2021, Akbar filed an appeal with the Delhi High Court, challenging the verdict.{{cite news |title=Trial court erroneously acquitted Priya Ramani in defamation case, MJ Akbar's counsel tells Delhi HC |url=https://scroll.in/latest/1002605/trial-court-erroneously-acquitted-priya-ramani-in-defamation-case-mj-akbars-counsel-tells-delhi-hc |access-date=13 April 2022 |work=Scroll.in |date=11 August 2021}} On 13 January 2022, the Delhi High Court accepted the case for review.{{cite news |title=Delhi HC admits MJ Akbar's appeal against acquittal of Priya Ramani in defamation case |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/delhi-hc-admits-mj-akbars-appeal-against-acquittal-of-priya-ramani-in-defamation-case/articleshow/88874212.cms |access-date=29 July 2022 |work=Times of India |agency=Press Trust of India |date=13 January 2022}}
India Love Project
On 28 October 2020, Ramani, her husband Samar Halarnkar, and their friend Niloufer Venkatraman created the India Love Project (ILP) on Instagram, as "a celebration of interfaith/inter-caste love and togetherness in these divisive, hate-filled times"{{cite news |title=India Love Project: The Instagram account telling tales of 'forbidden' love |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-54869565 |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=BBC |date=10 November 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Quint Neon |title=This Instagram Account Is Celebrating Indian Love Across Barriers |url=https://www.thequint.com/neon/social-buzz/india-love-project-instagram-account-celebrating-love |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=The Quint |date=10 November 2020}} where people are invited to people to submit personal or family stories about love transcending religious and communal identities.{{cite news |last1=Bhimjyani |first1=Aditi |title=Love an honest love story? This is the one Instagram account telling it as it is |url=https://www.vogue.in/culture-and-living/content/love-an-honest-love-story-this-is-the-one-instagram-account-telling-it-as-it-is-india-love-project |access-date=24 December 2020 |work=Vogue India |date=13 December 2020}}
ILP began in response to backlash against an advertising campaign that featured an interfaith couple, and has expanded to help couples find legal and counseling assistance.{{cite news |last1=Nair |first1=Shruti |title=HT Brunch Social Media Star of the Week: India Love Project |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/brunch/ht-brunch-social-media-star-of-the-week-india-love-project/story-qEXXPHrw3KNmCtw8hspXIM.html |access-date=20 December 2020 |work=Hindustan Times |date=13 December 2020}}{{cite news |last1=Singh |first1=Namita |title=India Love Project: How one couple is fighting the rising tide of hate |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/india-love-project-jihad-interfaith-caste-marriage-b1721826.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Independent |date=12 November 2020}} Ramani said the idea for ILP started with the increasing controversy over religious conversion laws (also known as "love jihad" laws).{{cite news |last1=Sinha |first1=Chinki |title=Countering 'love jihad' by celebrating India's interfaith couples |url=https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2021/2/10/countering-love-jihad-by-celebrating-indian-interfaith-couples |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Al Jazeera |date=10 February 2021}}
Education
Ramani studied psychology at St Xavier's College in Mumbai and journalism at Temple University in Philadelphia.{{cite news |last1=Sharma |first1=Shweta |title=Who is Priya Ramani and what is the India MeToo case about? |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/meetoo-india-priya-ramani-mj-akbar-b1803411.html |access-date=22 February 2021 |work=Independent |date=17 February 2021}}
Personal life
Ramani is married to journalist Samar Halarnkar.{{cite news |title=Our Most Important Weapon is Truth: Priya Ramani's Husband |url=https://www.thequint.com/news/india/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-me-too-india-samar-halarnkar-bjp |access-date=18 October 2022 |work=The Quint |date=16 October 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Akhauri |first1=Tanvi |title=Meet Samar Halarnkar, Priya Ramani's Husband Who Stood Beside Her In #MeToo Case |url=https://www.shethepeople.tv/men/samar-halarnkar-priya-ramani-husband/ |access-date=18 October 2022 |work=SheThePeople |date=17 February 2021}}
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- [https://www.thequint.com/news/law/mj-akbar-priya-ramani-case-background-explained-verdict-10-february How a Journalist Was Tried for Saying #MeToo] (Mekhala Saran, The Quint, 10 February 2021)
- [https://natashabadhwar.medium.com/priya-ramani-the-editor-who-ruined-my-life-a093eefee706 Natasha Badhwar on Priya Ramani]
{{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Ramani, Priya}}
Category:21st-century Indian women writers
Category:Indian women columnists
Category:Indian women journalists
Category:Year of birth missing (living people)