Throughout history, Sikhs have been adorned in sophisticated silk garments most commonly associated with a long ancestry of Maharajas and Maharanis. Immediately, Maharani Jind Kaur comes to mind as she was known for her tenacity, strength, and grace. She was the youngest wife of the first Maharaja Ranjit Singh and bore a son, crowned king, at the age of 5 post his father’s assassination. When Maharani Jind Kaur stepped into her role as regent, she combatted the overwhelming oppression of the British Empire, who feared her. Despite her years of imprisonment, exile, and separation from her son, she refused to break and kept faith until she was reunited with her homeland and family. Although centuries have passed Sikh Women still endure significant struggle to fight the systems working against them.

I was fortunate enough to have the opportunity to speak to Narita Bahra King’s Counsel. Bahra KC took silk in 2019. Like the Maharani’s before her, she carries the Silk with pride and elegance.

Despite the many obstacles arising, Bahra KC’s unrivaled passion and hunger ensured she rose through the ranks becoming a Queen’s Counsel in 2019. Since her appointment Bahra KC is a recognised Tier 1 Kings Counsel, whilst also being a Director in Garrick Law. Perhaps, the very reason she has stepped up as a vocal proponent of the women’s movement is because the foundation of her line of work coupled with her faith, which espouses fighting for equality, fairness and empowering others. Bahra KC stands tall with confidence, despite working within a profession where her identity and diverse characteristics have not always been valued.

Growing up in a family emanating from a military background, she recalled her childhood as ordered and regimented. Her paternal grandfather fought in the Army serving in both World War I & II. Her parents of Indian and East African origin migrated to the UK, where Bahra KC was born. Bahra KC is proud of her non-traditional background, attending state schooling and being one of the first in her family to attend a UK university. Bahra KC grew up with an understanding of her limited privileges, now emphasized by the absence of the social media, digital platforms and digital devices that ease our current daily lives. There were no legal professionals in her family to guide her and without social media platforms like LinkedIn, it was practically impossible to connect with anyone in the legal profession, unless you already knew them.

Such limitations also included a narrow scope of professions presented to her by the state school. Bahra KC recounts attending her school’s career fair, looking to her academic tutors for guidance, all to be told that a cook was the best career option available. Bahra KC’s parents thought otherwise and suggested she put all her tenacity and arguing to a good cause and suggested the Bar as a profession.

Bahra KC having been set the goal, she worked tirelessly to be awarded legal scholarships, taking a year out to fund university expenses by working as a historian, to come full circle as a governing Bencher at Lincoln’s Inn. Bahra KC is now recognised nationally due to her work as a legal correspondent for the media. Bahra KC commands respect, unapologetically navigating a predominantly non-diverse and male environment, outworking the doubts and impositions of those around her. She has truly redefined the idea of beating the odds.

“In a woman, man is conceived, From a woman, he is born, With a woman he is betrothed and married, With a woman, he contracts friendship. Why denounce her, the one from whom even kings are born? From a woman, a woman is born, None may exist without a woman.”

– Shri Guru Granth Sahib Ji, Ang 473

Sikhi has taught us to acknowledge the true value of women long before the media deemed it a popular notion, and it isn’t limited to looking after the home and children. Women make up half of the population, and without proper support can remain goldmines of untapped potential. Bahra KC’s mission for diversity is to be recognised as a truly exceptional lawyer, not defined by gender, religion or race. However, she acknowledges that in order to achieve this goal for all, it is necessary to be a role model and to make moves for change within the profession and community, to provide the younger generation with positivity to aspire to. Holding onto the unrealistic idea that you can retract crucial aspects of your identity is not only damaging to your own sense of self, but also to those that share the same characteristics. To do so sends subliminal messages of embarrassment that can be detrimental to impressionable youth.

Sikhs in Law was created by its founders to illuminate Sikhs making waves in the legal field. Bahra KC highlights the importance of self-acceptance and pride in your diversity, as it makes environments welcoming and safe for those incoming. After all, associating with people, places, or things that make you feel unseen results in you eventually losing sight of yourself. She notes that with people looking up to her, embracing her background, faith, and culture takes on a greater significance.

A mother of two children, she understands first-hand the juggling act of managing a demanding career alongside running a household. Bahra KC acknowledges the still ensuing difficulty for many women who live within a traditional and/or extended family. Her job comes with sacrificing evenings, long hours and national travel. Barristers still have great strides to make. Many chambers have no diversity representation and/or Asian female silks. It is important that lay and professional clients, as well as young people looking to enter the legal profession, identify with others they can relate to in a Barrister’s Chambers, as it makes the organization more inclusive and approachable.

Bahra KC wears her background, faith and culture with pride, as in her opinion, it is the only way to change the narrative that perpetuates an unsustainable balancing act for women in the profession. Bahra KC notes that the legal profession still has work to do on diversity and retention issues. She is proud her firm, Garrick Law, is composed of 80% women. However, Bahra KC reminds us that her task is far from over and in fact has simply just begun.

“The first lesson is, it takes you thrice as long to get there so don’t feel like an imposter on arrival. Once offered a seat at the table, do not apologize, know your worth, just accept your seat with grace.”

– Narita Bahra KC

Bahra KC’s first case at Queen’s Counsel made international media headlines, her successful performance was fuelled by grit and determination.

A Boys Club… have a seat!?

Even today, Bahra KC recognises that at each stage there is still work to be undertaken on the diversity and retention front. On one occasion she recounts questioning her choice to stay in her position, given the constant unconscious bias faced by women in her position. She now accepts that although it will not be easy, she has a duty to remain, push the boundaries and address issues arising to enable others from diverse backgrounds to start pulling up chairs as well.

“When you live in your own skin, you have to remind yourself to appreciate the impact you have on the lives of others”

– Narita Bahra KC

Bahra KC was born a Sikh. She finds peace in spirituality and seva. As the years pass, ‘life tests you’. Spirituality has become an anchor, as has living with humility and generosity of spirit. In Bahra KC’s line of work clients meet her when they are at their most vulnerable, having to make difficult life changing decisions. Her guidance and nerve has the ability to redirect their lives entirely. As such she has found it incredibly valuable to take out certain times in her day to focus and meditate. People who are at war with themselves cannot bring peace to others. As a lawyer it is important to view all scenarios with a clear, calm and focused mind.

Narita Bahra KC was astounded when informed by Sikhs in Law that she was one of the first female Sikh Silks. She assumed that this title would have been fulfilled many years ago, given that women had been practicing at the Bar for a hundred years. Bahra KC has a clear understanding of the impact of this fact on the lives of the future generation of Sikh lawyers.

Devoting herself to mentorship, allows her to live outside her skin, and proactively connect with aspiring women.

“Success is buried on the other side of rejection” 

Bahra KC stresses the importance of making peace with rejection. What is meant for you five years down the line may not be meant for you now. What defines your ability is not rejection, but how you persevere in the face of it. It is important to maintain a strong sense of faith and hope. Once you understand that life is never late, you begin to wait positively. Throughout her life, Bahra KC has accumulated wisdom which she uses to empower all those around her and her mentees. Bahra KC has demonstrated that two things define us, our patience when we have nothing and our attitude when we have everything. Bahra KC has used her journey to demonstrate that all that is worth doing, is the service we do for others.

Narita Bahra KC is a force to be reckoned with within the legal profession, she embodies the core values of Sikhism and is a champion of women.

By: Harsimran Kaur Chohan (SOAS Law 2025)

With thanks to Narita Bahra KC and Baldip Singh