1. Kindly introduce yourself. What inspired you to pursue a career in law?
I was born in Calcutta (now Kolkata), did my schooling from Don Bosco Park Circus School (DBPC), Kolkata and graduated from National Academy of Legal Studies and Research (NALSAR), Hyderabad in 2010. Thereafter, I have been in contentious practice. I was committed to debating, elocution and public speaking in school. I would be much into intra and inter-school competitions and would lose no opportunity to speak. I was also into theatrics and besides participating in dramatics and things of that kind, also enjoyed performing at home for my own joy. I suspect these tendencies, besides ideas about the legal profession propagated in films, lead me quite early (if I remember correctly, in the 6th standard itself) to make up my mind to pursue law as a career.
2. How did your education at NALSAR shape your approach to the legal profession? Were there any pivotal moments or experiences during your time at NALSAR that motivated you to specialise in your area of practice?
There is quite some debate on whether a National Law School education trains you for a career in litigation. In my experience, it does teach you to think analytically and logically, research and apply law to facts, court craft and drafting, particularly if you participate in moot courts and write papers. The environment in NALSAR was extremely intellectually stimulating and one was amongst a group of super intelligent and competitive people. I would say my participation along with my teammates Dhananjaya Mishra, Brajendu Bhaskar and Ashish Pareek in the 2010 Philip C. Jessup International Law Moot Court Competition where we made it to the world semi-finals in Washington DC was the most definitive moment of my law school years. The atmosphere in Jessup’s with 100 odd teams from across the world participating was truly indelible. What it imbibed in me particularly was a faith in meritocracy, something akin to what sports persons get by participating in the Olympics and other such competitions. In large part and often to the harmless ridicule of my colleagues, friends and peers, I have held on to this faith in merit. I have been very lucky to have found mentors and seniors who have given me the right opportunities and guidance and it is largely because of these fortuitous circumstances and their blessings that my faith in merit and triumph of ability, has remained unflinching. On the flip side, an education at NALSAR does not really train you advocacy as opposed to lawyering. Advocacy is a set of skills which is unique and requires much more than only your skills as a lawyer and can only be learnt while in practice, at least in my experience. A National Law School education gives you a kind of idealistic view of things, somewhat divorced from practical realities of life, which may pose some challenges when faced with the rough and tumble of litigation practice. But as I said, I have been extremely lucky so far and hence, even without social or networking skills or being worldly wise, I have survived.
3. You have been recently designated as a Senior Advocate. In fact, you are the youngest person to have received this honour this year from the Calcutta High Court. How do you feel about this, and what do you think contributed to achieving this milestone so early in your career?
On a lighter note, I hope that I do not end up as a case of “the hurrier I go, the behinder I get”. More than the age, how young or old, it is what one makes with the designation that matters and an uncertain and unchartered future, full of challenges and difficult terrain lies ahead. But at the same time, I am extremely grateful to the Judges of the Calcutta High Court for bestowing this honour upon me at a very young age. It casts a great responsibility to live up to the responsibility that comes with the designation.
4. With your experience at the Calcutta High Court, what do you think are the unique challenges and opportunities in practicing law at the Calcutta High Court?
I have practised principally in the Circuit Bench of the Calcutta High Court at Port Blair. Although, I have had opportunities to do cases in the past in the Principal Bench at Calcutta also, thanks to my senior and mentor Mr Surendra Dube, who has given me the unique opportunity to do so. The chance to appear for the Central Government and Andaman & Nicobar (A&N) Administration at Port Blair was a unique opportunity, which is the principal contributor to me being designated as Senior Counsel. It is this opportunity that gave me a substantial volume of cases to argue and hence, the good fortune of appearing before the Judges of the Calcutta High Court who officiate in the Port Blair Circuit Bench on rotation basis. The Calcutta High Court is the oldest High Court in the country and is extremely rich in its traditions. It follows a dual system of counsel and solicitors as prevalent in the British times. Some of the greatest legal luminaries including Judges, senior counsels and solicitors have been from the Calcutta Bar, and the High Court continues to be a repository of brilliance and eminence. Hence, it is always a challenge to meet up to such high standards. But as I said, I have been extremely lucky. Had good luck with having the rights mentors and seniors like Mr Dube in Kolkata and Mrs Sonia Dube in Delhi, besides the encouragement from Judges and senior counsels, has made me sail through at least so far. I can only reiterate that the Judges of the Calcutta High Court have shown great benevolence in conferring this honour upon me and it is now my duty, along with others who have been designated, to uphold the great traditions of the Calcutta Bar.
5. What are some of the key skills or qualities you think young lawyers should focus on developing to excel in litigation?
As I said, I consider myself extremely lucky so far and luck is something one cannot attain by effort or training. In our profession, Edison’s hypothesis is kind of reversed. 1% inspiration counts more than 99% perspiration. But then it is true you need the hard work too. In today’s competitive world everyone works hard to survive. To be quite honest, I cannot claim to have applied any formula or method. However, if there are attributes which have helped me survive, I would say it is love and passion for what I do. The excitement of appearing before a court and making an argument which is well thought out and prepared in advance. The greatest joy and compliment being when the Judge accepts an argument, or the other side acknowledges it. More than winning or losing, it is the joy of a legal argument that I look forward to every day.
6. Litigation is known to be a demanding field. What advice would you give to young lawyers to maintain their mental well-being? Do you have any hobbies or interests outside of law that help you unwind or gain perspective?
Well, again very difficult to answer the question. Law is a jealous mistress as the cliché goes. Litigation is particularly demanding as a profession and if you are passionate about your profession, and wholeheartedly dedicated, it is but obvious that to sensible onlookers you may appear to be somewhat a geek. We do not know if the most obsessed surgeons or scientists in the world are altogether normal in the ordinary sense of the term. But yes, too much of obsession with a particular subject is not good for the mind or the body. So, I guess one should have distractions. This is particularly important in the context of an extremely conservative profession which requires resoluteness and patience more than anything else. I like reading both fiction and non-fiction and have particular interest in history and cinema. I am also big time into nostalgia and love to imaginatively reminisce and time travel much like Gil Pender in Woody Allen’s Midnight in Paris.
7. In your opinion, how important is networking for young lawyers? How can one build meaningful professional relationships in the legal field?
I am the wrong person to ask this question. Networking is the most important skill that a lawyer needs, particularly in today’s competitive day and age. I guess it is true for most professions. Although, while I would frankly admit having little expertise in this department, I would say it is important to be honest and maintain integrity in relationships. Eventually, if you are true to the values, you have been brought up on, there is every possibility that you will be recognised for it, particularly since in today’s fast paced life, materialism and self-interest have become compelling forces in all spheres of life.
8. In your opinion, how important are academics and co-curricular activities such as moot courts and debates for someone aspiring to build a career in litigation?
They are not relevant except as a very discreet influence. It is something akin to a knowledge of history or literature standing you in good stead in life or a knowledge of current affairs. The skills that I picked up from these activities in law school, could very well be picked up, perhaps tempered by pragmatism, from real practice in the courts.
9. Where should a fresh law graduate interested in litigation start from? What are the various considerations one must bear in mind while making that decision?
Well, there is no one answer to this question. One could start at any level, from the mofussil courts as they were known once, to the Supreme Court. There is no one recipe or right approach. One could start at a law firm or a counsels’ chamber. The considerations also depend on where you start from. The gestation period for most people is long in litigation. It is somewhat akin to a life in tinseltown, with its laden uncertainties and challenges. But then well-paying transactional firm jobs are also not available to most people, except at the top few law schools. Litigation in India, for most people, is not structured like a transactional law firm or in-house counsel job. So obviously, for someone without the means to sustain oneself, it is very challenging, especially if you are not in your hometown. But things are changing for some time now. Litigation offices and even counsel chambers have started paying stipends and decent remuneration to associate advocates, where it is not possible for the latter to get junior briefs or direct work from clients. But then, given the high standard of living in most big cities, it is still difficult to keep oneself afloat without some kind of help from family, until such time that you can find your feet.
10. What are some of the mistakes you see young lawyers making, and how can one avoid them? What advice would you like to give to our readers?
I would like to think that I am still young myself and do not have the maturity to look at this question objectively. It is important to make mistakes, and one learns most from mistakes. It is important to keep trying. My father had once advised me after a failed attempt at singing “Brown Girl in the Ring” at a children’s competition, that it is more important to participate than to win. This is the best advice that I can possibly share.
