"Working with Seervai was like working with Arjuna!"

After attaining a degree in law, Ashok Desai went on to study for the Bar in England. He concurrently joined the London School of Economics where he read Economics. He recounted an instance in 1955 when he represented the London School of Economics in China.

"The system in England of studying for the Bar is like getting trained for a guild. The standard of excellence to pass the Bar exam was not very high."

He recollected his experience of returning to India after he got called to the Bar. The Suez Canal route was closed and he had to travel via the Cape of Good Hope. It was then that he saw the practice of Apartheid in South Africa, and that left an impression on him.

Upon his return, he began life at the Bombay Bar after seeking advice from H.M. Seervai, who urged him to start from the bottom and join a solicitor's office as a junior. It was this training that paid off in the later years. After a year and a half of this training, he joined the office of Mr. S.V. Gupte, who later went on to become the Attorney General of India.

"It is much better to argue a small case than be a second fiddle in a large case," he said and recommends the same to young lawyers.

"The art of speaking in court can never be learnt unless one actually argues in court." He also spoke of the importance of starting practice in the lower courts before aspiring to practice in the Supreme Court.

"Working with Seervai was like working with Arjuna. He would concentrate intensely on the case such that it was in exclusion of everything else", he said. Another person who influenced Ashok Desai was Nani Palkhiwala.

"Justice Y.V Chandrachud and Justice H.R. Gokhale, by their mere presence could bring out good advocacy", said Ashok Desai.

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• Ashiok Desai
• Supreme Court
• Bombay Bar
• Attorney General
• S V Gupte
• H M Seervai
• Nani Palkhivala interviews

[aditya1782]

Hearing Ashok Desai is great. But why does the intereviewer keep interrupting him so rudely?