Carving Your Own Path - Roopa Modha on Becoming the First Lawyer in the Family and How She Embraces Creativity in Her Life
“I am never content with where I reach, and am in an eternal quest for knowledge. Whatever version of ourselves we are today, we can continue to get better the next day. You do yourself a major disservice the day ego takes over and you feel you are an expert in any field. There is always more to learn.” Today’s woman dreamer, Roopa Modha, is quite the multi-faceted woman - a lawyer, dancer, pageant winner, and more. Named as one of the leading intellectual property lawyers in Connecticut and Woman Leaders for the Next 40 Years, she reflects on her legal career, and how she finds the inspiration to pursue her multiple artistic passions. Enjoy her story!
1. Tell us your story. You are truly a multi-faceted woman - a talented lawyer , author, and was selected as "Woman Leaders for the Next 40 Years). What inspired you to be the woman you are today?
I strongly believe each one of us has a spark within us that requires us to believe in ourselves in order to truly blaze a trail ahead. We need to use moments - both good and bad - as fuel to help that spark turn into an eternal flame of positivity and success. For me, the road hasn’t always been easy or straight-forward to blaze my way in life, but I remained determined and driven that I will make it. As a child, I had gotten a major sports injury in my right hand from playing hockey in gym class that had turned into chronic pain. A hockey stick had hit my R hand little finger’s growth plate - fusing it and trapping my nerve. The pain was such that I could only see half my visual field and used to be paralyzed in the mornings from it as pain had extended up my arm, down my back, to my R knee. I could barely attend school due to the severe pain. I even had to give up my dream of doing my arangetram (indian dance graduation) with my sister. However, in the evenings sometimes the pain would lessen, so I began to take college classes at night to gain enough credits to graduate in time with my class. While my family and all my classmates were my strength and pillars of support, many teachers and even the principal were not. In fact, I had even been told by the principal that I “will never make anything of myself.” That moment is what turned the spark inside me into a fire within. I realized that the only way one can achieve anything is to trust in myself to discover my own worth. It doesn’t matter if others don’t believe in you. I persevered by believing in myself and recognized that hard work can really open any door for you - even if others think they have blocked access for you. It is also this moment that made me realize I will never let any girl think they cannot make it and will light a way for others as well. I made it my goal to help other girls’ rise up and succeed even if no one else will believe in them. When someone believes in you it can change your life. For me, I am blessed with parents and a sister who never doubted me and who always fuel my dreams with their constant faith in my talents!
Thankfully, the pain went away as I stopped growing (a doctor had mentioned it might do so) and I was able to achieve in many fields. After high school, I went on to get 3 degrees (AS Honors in Computer Programming, BS Honors in Health: Science, Society, and Policy from Brandeis University, Doctorate in Jurisprudence (JD) from UConn Law, and 2 additional certificates in Tax Law and Intellectual Property Law, and was a commencement speaker at all three graduations). I wanted to push myself so I always took the hardest classes! While in law school, I fell into the world of media and entertainment and have had the privilege to emcee and host for channels like Zee TV, TV Asia, Awesome ITV, IBC Tamil, etc. I have written over 3000+ articles for magazines, newspapers, and blogs around the world. It was during that time when I entered pageants and went on to get many titles (highest title is international). Although many individuals assume pageantry is for the superficial (I am guilty to have thought that before doing them myself), in fact, pageants draw incredibly driven women who are championing legitimate causes into their mix. Pageants allowed me to connect with like-minded women and brilliant individuals who I am proud to have as sash sisters.
My parents have always taught my sister and I that whenever we succeed, we need to remember to always help the less fortunate who may not have access to the opportunities we have had. As my parents' families are from Gandhi’s birthplace, they truly imbibed his philosophy of being the change you wish to see! I have used my voice to speak up for and focus on getting girls’ quality education. Even while in high school, I helped raise funds to build schools in poor communities abroad. I have been lucky that I was able to help many girls around the world achieve their dreams through my work for initiatives like Girl Rising and Indian Dreams Foundation - both of which I am an Ambassador of. For IDF, for example, a social media campaign I spearheaded helped them raise $10,000 in 3 days. These funds were used to cover full education costs for life for over 30 girls in India!
The person I am, therefore, is really a reflection of the winding journey I have had and the strength and support given to me by my parents and sister. Through my struggles, I learned to live in the moment and appreciate each day. I also realized to never have fear of failure, and - at the very least - to always attempt to achieve any goal! Take those first steps, regardless of what others’ may think, and if you can bring others with you on your journey to help them rise too, do so! We all have our own destiny and path, so lighting the way for others won’t dim your own rise!
2. How did you know you wanted to be a lawyer?
I’ve always wanted to carve my own path in life, and have always wanted to use my voice to make a difference in the world. I am the first lawyer in my family on both sides! On my Dad’s side most of my relatives are in IT or engineering, and on my Mom’s side we have mostly doctors (my sis is a physician, all my cousins are, and 2 uncles!). So, it was unchartered territory entering the world of law. While I love science and computer science both, I realized the field of law can allow me to combine my interests and background in a variety of disciplines. I did really well in law school, was magister/president of the honor society, and decided to pursue 2 additional certificates in addition to my JD. I didn’t want to take it easy, and capitalized on the access I had to learn under top attorneys. So, I took additional classes to get certificates in both tax law and intellectual property law. I was told by career services that no one had attempted this combination before as it is very difficult, and that I won’t be able to do it! However, any time someone says I can’t do something, it just gives me more motivation to accomplish that pursuit! I completed both certifications in addition to my doctorate, and my career counselor told me at graduation she should never have doubted me! I initially thought I would pursue patent law, but then I did a summer law program at University College London (UCL) in the UK and did specialized training in entertainment and media law. As my media career had been taking off while in law school, it seemed only natural that my end goal in law would be in this field. On the advice of a professor, I founded my own law firm straight out of law school and have had a variety of clients in music, pageantry, fashion, film, and more!
3. What is your advice to young women interested in law? How did you navigate gender biases in your career?
If you are a woman who is looking to pursue law, I would suggest you start networking now and start volunteering at law firms to gain experience. Find and connect with lawyers (especially female attorneys) who are experienced in the field of law that you want to pursue. For me, I went into law from a completely science background, and am the first attorney in my family (on both sides). So it was a learning process in completely unfamiliar ground! If you love law, I would really suggest gaining experience - even through observation - from an early stage. Many people become paralegals first and then enter the profession, which I think is a great way to get more experience in law and to learn if you want to commit to a full JD and to hold full responsibility as an attorney. So, start networking as far and wide as you can!
Gender bias, unfortunately, is a mindset - more like a virus, in my opinion - that permeates all fields. I’ve been lucky that in law I have not been exposed to any bias as my professors, classmates, and colleagues all have had mutual respect for one another. UConn Law really provided an environment that encouraged all to succeed. However, national statistics still reflect that women are not getting equal pay or opportunities in law as men. For example, around 40% of US law students are women, but only about 23% of equity partners in U.S. law firms are women! Personally, I noticed there was a greater gender bias in science and computer science. I remember during one of my computer science classes when I entered the room - I was the only girl - and the male professor asked me if I was in the right place! Let’s hope all this changes and more individuals realize a woman's place is in all arenas!
4. Not only are you a lawyer, but also a tv host and dance instructor. Tell us more about your creative pursuits? What was an exciting experience you had that you would like to share?
I have been blessed that I have been able to balance both law and also my interest in writing, art, music, dance, and media. As an author, I have written 2 books and have over 3000+ published articles that have featured in blogs, magazines, and newspapers around the world. One book I wrote was a children’s book, whose proceeds I gave to girls’ education. I am currently working on writing more books and pursuing other writing projects.
I really enjoy art! While in undergrad, I had started my own web comic online, “Erratic Beat Comics” that did really well worldwide! It had done so well I had been interviewed in Hindustan Times. However, due to academics I ended up stopping drawing for the site. I illustrated the two books I have written, and hope to always illustrate any book I write.
Music has always been an inherent part of me since I was a child. I trained in piano, violin, and flute. However, I had to give these up when I had injured my hand, but I do hope to return to them and also to learn guitar (my fav instrument!). In university, I used to DJ and hosted a show called “Bollywood Beats” on WBRS. This show ended up very popular with the New England Patriots - they had written in and told me! Music has never left me and a few years back I conceptualized and penned the lyrics to the track, “I Rise” by Agents of Harmony. The song was sung by the talented singer-actress Barbie Rajput of Sa Re Ga Ma Lil Champs and Gunjan Saxena fame. I had released the track independently on my label Modhavation Music and it played on online radio for a while. One individual who heard the song had messaged me to say the lyrics actually saved her life! She was contemplating suicide, when the song had played and she heard it. She said it gave her strength! It was so humbling to hear this and made me realize the power of words. The song had been conceived to be a power anthem as I was doing it to raise funds for girls’ education.
Dance isn’t just a passion for me, but is my life force! I am trained in multiple dance styles - ballet, tap, jazz, Bollywood (under the late Smt. Saroj Khan), bharatanatayam, kuchipudi, odissi, and Zumba. I have been blessed to train with top teachers in dance! In 2019, my sister and I completed our arangetram together! Since then, I have been teaching Indian classical dance. It is so fulfilling to spread our rich Indian culture! As a dancer, I have gotten to perform at top festivals, universities, and more. While in law school, I had performed the Kuchipudi dance Shiva Navarasa (choreographed by Padma Bhushan Raja Reddy), which is my favorite piece as it is strong in pure dance and expressions. At the end of the performance, I received a standing ovation and one of the lawyers in the audience came up to me in tears and told me, “I always wondered why I was born. Now, I know it was to witness this moment!” It was such a touching moment to have elicited such a response from the audience. It is amazing how dance can touch our souls! Another moment that I will always cherish is what Smt. Saroj Khan told me when watching me dance for the first time. Sarojji told me that I “danced perfectly” and that I “have a great memory and pick up steps so fast and accurately. You remind me of Vyjayantimala.” There is no compliment I could have received that could surpass being compared to my dance idol!
Media is something that came naturally to me. I love emceeing and the thrill of being on stage, as well as conducting interviews! It has humanized the entertainment world for me as I’m lucky to have many celebs as friends. One moment I will never forget is when I was emceeing for Zee TV in Chicago, and the late Bappi Lahiri (who was the main judge), told me that “I have seen so many stars in Bollywood and Hollywood both, but have never seen such an intelligent, knowledgeable, and incredible emcee like you!” It was such a blessing to have gained the respect of someone so gifted and reputed.
5. As the platform for women dreamers, what is your next big dream?
I wish I wouldn’t have to list this as merely a dream and it was a reality already, but I want to see a world where equality truly exists and pervades every aspect of our lives. As long as I have a breath within me, I will be working hard to ensure girls’ around the world can get full access to opportunities, that they get quality education, and they get sustained support! To complete that goal, I will continue to try and think of out-of-the-box methods to raise funds for this cause.
In a personal context, I am never content with where I reach, and am in an eternal quest for knowledge. Knowledge gives you the power to reinvent and adapt to any situation. Moreover, we need to always remain humble and realize that there isn’t a stop sign present in the process of learning. Whatever version of ourselves we are today, we can continue to get better the next day. You do yourself a major disservice the day ego takes over and you feel you are an expert in any field. There is always more to learn and always other ways of viewing an idea. My dream, in that sense, is to gain as much knowledge as possible, grow my law firm, and ultimately even open my own dance school!