OLD IS GOLD

This post talks about a very old but still relevant advice to young lawyers. It is contained in 1875 Tagore Law Lectures and was always given by my grandfather and father. But before I tell you about it, a bit about us.

My Grandfather Keshav Chandra Singh Chaudhary and My father Virendra Kumar Singh Chaudhary in our house at 37, Tashkent Road, Allahabad in 1970

WE SHALL OVERCOME

This is the ninth and concluding post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It ends on the note 'हम होंगे कामयाब'.

Vizianagram Hall, Science Faculty, Allahabad University - Photo courtesy a friend   

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।। 

FALL FROM GRACE

This is the eighth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about what went wrong with the Allahabad University.

Senate Hall, University of Allahabad

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

CAN PARLIAMENT ABOLISH CONSTITUTION

This is the seventh post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the sixth notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - encourage discussion and push the students to the unknown territory. 

The first building of the Law Faculty was constructed in 1910 and now houses the English Department. However, our third year classes were held in this building only.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।। 

DON'T WORRY, IT WILL COOL DOWN

Prof Shyam Lal Srivastava

This is the sixth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the fifth notch of the key for the the glorious future - understand the difficulties and problems of the students and help them; it is an asset for the institution. Here is an example of the same how our teachers helped us.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

THE UNFORGETTABLE TEACHER - PROF. RD PATHAK

Dr. RD Pathak (01.10.1936 - 10.02.2003) 

This is the fifth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the fourth notch in the key to open door for glorious future: consider students more important that your time - a common phenomenon among the teachers in those times. 

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

CHRIST BIRTH IN STABLE - COURTESY STATISTICIAN

This is the fourth post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the third notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - Talk about interesting books other than the text books on the subject. 

Science Faculty - Allahabad University

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Dr. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

GOD DOES NOT EXIST

This is the third post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the second notch of the key to unlock the door to the glorious future - Make your subject interesting. 

Dr. Banwari Lal Sharma in his traditional dress - Dhoti- Kurta in an international conference at the Allahabad University. He was one of the finest teachers in the University. He modernised the syllabus of the mathematics department of the University - making it toughest, and finest in the country.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

STUDENTS' ENTHUSIASM AT ALLAHABAD - UNPARALLELED

This is the second post of the series 'Happy Days Gone by'. It talks about the first notch of the key to unlock the door to glorious future - Invite eminent academicians to the campus. 

Vizianagram Hall - As was then when I attended the lectures or studied

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm At Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

HAPPY DAYS GONE BY - Introduction

In order to revive the Allahabad University, the Vice Chancellor of the Allahabad University has taken unprecedented step to fill up the vacancies. Three hundred appointments have been made. Screening and interviews for the remaining posts are going on. She has also organised an 'Induction program of the faculty members at the University of Allahabad' to inspire the newly appointed teachers by talking about the great teachers of the past.

I was requested to speak  about our old teachers. I had thought of speaking at length but cut short the speech to accommodate the time available. I will be publishing my talk in parts. Here is the first part of the unabridged version.

Happy Days Gone By

Introduction।। Students' Enthusiasm at Allahabad - Unparalleled।। God Does Not Exist।। Christ Birth In Stable - Courtesy Statistician।। The Unforgettable Teacher - Prof. RD Pathak।। Don't Worry, It Will Cool Down।। Can Parliament Abolish Constitution।। Fall from Grace।। We Shall Overcome।।

WELL READ PERSON - BEST PREPARED FOR LAW

Felix Franfurter J. - Courtesy Wikipedia

This is the seventh and the last post of the series ‘Command Over Language is an Asset’. It talks about: advice of Felix Frankfurter J. to a young boy, when the boy had asked him how to prepare to become a good lawyer; the secret of KL Misra’s success; and explains the same, with the help of one the finest  science fiction story ever written - ‘Profession’ by Isaac Asimov. 

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।। Ruling May Not Choke My Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।

RULING MAY NOT CHOKE MY INTELLIGENCE

This is the sixth post of the series ‘Command Over Language is an Asset’. It recommands watching the best advocates to learn the art - with some experiences of my own.

Nani Palkhivala - picture courtesy Palkhivala Exhibition June 2023 Bombay

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।। Ruling May Not My Choke Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।

HAS RHETORIC ANY PLACE IN COURT?

This is the fifth post in the series ‘Command Over Language is an Asset’.

This painting depicting a lecture in a knight academy, illustrates rhetoric. It was painted by Pieter Isaacsz or Reinhold Timm for Rosenborg Castle as part of a series of seven paintings depicting the seven independent arts.  Picture Courtesy Wikipedia

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।।  Has Rhetoric Any Place In Court।। Ruling May Not Choke My Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।

ONE SENTENCE CHANGED THE FATE

Summary: Command over language is an asset for a legal practitioner. It is explained, over seven part series, through life of Kanhaiya Lal Misra (31.08.1903 – 14.10.1975) - one of the greatest advocates of our country, who reined supreme in 1950s and 1960s. 

In the first part, two incidents related to him are narrated: one is by my father VKS Chaudhary and the other is by Vibhav Bhushan Mishra, both senior advocates and later adorned the post of Advocate General.

Command Over Language Is An Asset

One Sentence Changed The Fate।। Advocate General taught English To Me।। Misfortune of Being Opposed by KL Misra ।। Present Evolves Out Of The Past।। Has Rhetoric Any Place In Court?।। Ruling May Not Choke My Intelligence।। Well Read Person - Best Prepared For Law।।

Read Globally

Satish Chandra Khare

Summary: Lawyer and judges may not achieve their full potential if they confine themselves to reports and writings in India and no Bar can develop if seniors don’t pitch in.

It is illustrated with an incident during emergency – an advice from Satish Chandra Khare, (1911 - 01.12.1980) a stalwart of the Allahabad High Court Bar. 

What Irritates A Judge Most

It is important to pay attention to the observations and queries of the court. This post explains the same with an incident, at early stage of my career, from the court of Justice Hriday Nath Seth (15.10.1925 – 28.10.2017). He was a judge of the Allahabad High court, when I joined the Bar and retired as the Chief Justice of the Punjab and Haryana High Court on 14th October 1987. 

Mr Justice Hriday Nath Seth with his wife Mrs Padma Seth on the lawns of his house in Allahabad. This picture was taken on their last marriage anniversary together. 

Keep The Judge In Good Humour

This post is about the fundamental rule of advocacy, mentioned by Quintin Hogg in his memoirs ‘A Sparrow's Flight’ together with my experience in the beginning of my career. 

Writing, Expressing - Improves Communication

2nd edition cover

Summary: The post is about improving communication and its basic rule with a personal happy incident. 

A conversation inspires parties to it; a talk, the attendees; but a writing,  unknown people.

Soar Rather Than Sulk

Summary: This post is an advice to budding legal professionals - be they aspire to be a lawyer or a law teacher, or a jurist or a judge illustrated by an instance from the court of Justice Brij Narain Sapru. 

'When law stands in the path of justice clanking its chains, the proper course of the Judge is to pass through them undeterred.' 

With due apologies to Lord Atkin (United Australia Ltd. Vs Barclays Bank 1941 AC 1 at 29) 

LegalTrek - Reminiscences/ Advice

।। Avoid Legalese - Adopt Plain English।।  Know Your Judge।। Soar Rather than Sulk।।

This post is part of the series LegalTrek. There are a few posts in this series that relate to 'Biography'; some are 'Miscellaneous' i.e. not falling in any particular group. This one is part reminiscence, part caution, part advice. You can access posts of the other series by clicking on 'LegalTrek' under the heading 'Labels' on the right side.