JK Rowling’s Harry Potter wasn’t just a book series; it was a complete universe in itself. Many lives have been touched by Rowling’s fantasy world as the books are rich in lessons and values. Recently, The University of Juridical Sciences (NUJS), Kolkata has introduced a new course titled “An interface between Fantasy Fiction Literature and Law: Special focus on Rowling’s Potterverse”.
The university is encouraging the students to explore the legal aspects of Harry Potter and its many life lessons. The course will be offered as an elective to 4th and 5th-year students of BA LLB (Hons) programme. It aims to cover legal traditions and institutions, crimes and punishments, economy, politics, contracts in the Potterverse.
A Breather from the Orthodox curriculum
Law School Curriculum has a specific set of subjects. It revolves around the hard letter of the law, case laws etc. Since, law course last about five years, the orthodox curriculum becomes boring for students. The new course will act as a breather for students.
Students will learn to apply legal principles in a completely new scenario, and understand how things will work through insights into a wizarding world constantly under government surveillance.
A Unique Platform for students
Owing to the societal, legal and political changes happening across the world, law students need to adapt and respond to events unfolding around them.
The Harry Potter series vividly exposes the limitations of laws and institutions. Students will learn to apply legal principles in a completely new scenario, and understand how things will work through insights into a wizarding world constantly under government surveillance.
In Potterverse for example, The Ministry of Magic uses its representatives to torture children for daring to tell the truth and imprisons or even executes its citizens without the benefit of due process of law.
Its infamous prison Azkaban is designed to drive inmates to despair and suicidal tendencies without any hope of reformation. In numerous instances, the wealthy control and influence government policy. Freedom of the press in Potterverse is curtailed, and the major newspaper ‘The Daily Prophet’ is used to spread propaganda.
The series thus provides a unique platform for students to reflect and compare the legal situations with their own government.
