Wednesday, November 4, 2009

Never Again….Mind It!

Shejal Verma

23rd, 24th and 25th !!! Yes!! The day really came when I boarded in train for going my home-sweet-home…Ah! So I was in fact going home…flowing like a breeze, I euphorically and safely boarded the train and the journey began…..So what`s new in that? I`ll tell you-
The following conversation took place between me and my co-passenger (sorry I don’t remember his name ) just before few minutes when the train reaches Raipur and I am proud to clarify his misconceptions about the `So called legal profession` (in his terms)…
(The co-passenger will be addressed as Mr. X…No intentions to take a particular name.)
.......................................................................
Take One….Action!
Mr. X: Alone?
Me (With a doubtful expression): Err…Yup
Mr. X: Where are you going?
Me: Raipur
Mr. X: I see
Me: What??
Mr. X: Oh! Nothing…! So which in which class are you? (That’s not his mistake…I hardly look a 1st year student! )
Me (Gladly): Pursuing B.A. LL.B (Hon.) from National Law Institute University, Bhopal
Mr. X: Oh…I am so sorry, you don’t look so old to study in….what college?
Me (with not a very good look): National Law Institute University, Bhopal
Mr. X: Exactly. “To vakil banogi…”
Ha”, I said.
“Ajkal kaun banta hai?”
Now that was the limit…. “Not again”, I said. People think there is no other profession than engineering and medical. You utter them the word `law` and instantly (more faster than 3*108 m/s ), a beautiful picture of a man wearing white shirt, and black pant pops up. It is melancholy that they can hardly think beyond this. I had already given divine knowledge to a plethora of people about the great importance and scope of legal profession but this man poured water to all my labour.

“Ok”, I thought, “lets wash off his mind (Ummm…firstly, finding his mind would be a much better idea!)”
“Do you know what exactly Legal profession is?”
A straight forward `No`………..Expected
So I`ll have to begin it from the beginning….
..................................................................
Take Two…..action!
“The practice of law is indeed a wonderful experience. As a naïve, you get to know what actually governs not only your but other countries, acquaint with your rights and duties, problems of the masses and a great opportunity to help them when you enter into it and a lot and lot more (Of course I Don’t know everything coz I m too just a beginner.. ). It is in demand because of the changing scenario in the regulations made by the Government vis-à-vis changing social structure. The world is beyond Physics, Chemistry and Math. The scope of legal profession has widened since many years and is increasing day by day. And 11 NLUs (for common masses, I’ll reframe it to as 11 National Law Universities) together with many law colleges provide a concrete base to cultivate and transform ourselves into a rational thinking and responsible individual, where decisions are ought to be taken by mind and not by heart.
It’s a profession where you can actually raise voice for……”
Chai, coffee, cold drinks, fruity!!!

No no!!! not that!!! It was a typical chai wala with a typical voice (I wish I could convey the sound effect to my readers. As for now, be happy with the imaginative picture you have drawn in your mind!)

So where I was? Yes, “It’s a profession where you have the authoritative right to argue for the interests of the people concerned.”
After having said this much, I sensed that the man was indeed listening to all my `su-wakyas` like a diligent `shishya`….

Continuing further…
“There are many fields you can opt in law like corporation law, civil law, criminal law, international law, labour law, patent law, tax law and so on.
The importance of legal profession in a developing country like India is so much that it can`t be illustrated (Sometimes, it becomes difficult to describe the simplest things…But I don`t think law is that easy.)
Lastly, I`ll tell you who we are.
We are those who are concerned with the protection of rights of the people, trying in every way that they are not infringed, representative of clients, who work for the country and give our best to improve the status of the society by making the citizens aware of their laws.”
“WE ARE LEGAL ACTIVISTS….. .”
...............................................................
Scene Three….action!

Me: I think that’s enough to make you understand what the legal profession is about. Hope I`d be able to tell more when we meet the next time….
Mr. X: No no, its fine! I mean fantabulous! I really didn`t know the importance of this subject and its vastness! Meri galti.
“So next time when you meet someone who is completely alien to this great field, just bring him out of darkness by giving a sweet lecture of mine, verbatim.”

The train whistled and entered to the Raipur Junction.

“Time for me to go…..Hope to see you again! Bye!”
Mr. X: Bye. Have a great day Ms. Legal Activist!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
Pack up

So this was all about my journey. I really felt great that I could explain my co-passenger the vitality of my subject. A memorable trip indeed…
Catch you later….