Trolled For Her Bindi, Name And Heritage: Mathura Sridharan Appointed As Ohio’s 12th Solicitor General

Transcript

00:00Trolled for the bindi on her forehead, mocked for her name and questioned about her Indian

00:04heritage.

00:05This is Mathura Sridharan, an Indian-origin lawyer who has been appointed as Ohio's 12th

00:09Solicitor General, making her the state's top appellate lawyer responsible for representing

00:14Ohio in high-stakes cases before the federal and state courts, including the US Supreme

00:19Court.

00:20But instead of just celebrating the achievement, Sridharan found herself the target of racist

00:24and xenophobic trolling online.

00:26But why is Mathura Sridharan being trolled?

00:28The hate centered on her Indian heritage, with many questioning why someone with a non-Western

00:32name and background should hold such a senior legal post.

00:35Some even mocked her for wearing a bindi in her official photo.

00:38One comment read, is she a Christian, that's the biggest concern.

00:42Another user said, no one with the last name Sridharan fought in the civil war.

00:45However, the backlash didn't go unanswered.

00:48The Ohio AG quickly came to her defense, calling out the trolls and reaffirming her qualifications

00:53and right to represent the state.

00:54She clarified that she's a citizen of the United States and called out the attempt to

00:58portray her as non-American.

01:00Mathura Sridharan currently serves as deputy solicitor general and heads Ohio's 10th

01:04amendment center.

01:05She holds a law degree from the New York University, along with bachelor's and master's degrees

01:10from MIT in electrical engineering, computer science and economics.

01:14She clerked for prominent federal judges and beyond the law, she's also a trained Carnatic

01:18vocalist who has performed at Chennai's prestigious December music season.

01:22Despite the online trolling, Sridharan's appointment is being seen as a significant achievement, marking

01:28another milestone for Indian original professionals in the US legal system, and her story is one

01:33of merit, resilience and representation.