The Law And The Lawyers

by Mahatma Gandhi

Year by year, the enlightened opinion of the world enshrines Gandhi in a noble place in the hearts of mankind. The life and example of the Mahatma who ennobled the legal profession, who remained faithful to its highest traditions, and who showed the heights to which it can be raised ought to form part of the teaching and training of every law student. At a time when the legal and professional standards among both judges and lawyers have fallen woefully, it behooves the legal fraternity to bestir itself and infuse a moral tone into the profession by pledging itself with renewed vigor and deep devotion to the ideals and the precepts of Gandhiji. This book will have more than served its purpose if it inspires the reader, be he a lawyer or a layman, with the belief that the vocation of the lawyer is an honorable vocation requiring the highest standards of rectitude, integrity and uprightness, and that its practice is in no way inconsistent with the pursuit of truth. This book will have more than served its purpose if it inspires the reader, be he a lawyer or a layman, with the belief that the vocation of the lawyer is an honourable vocation requiring the highest standards of rectitude, integrity and uprightness, and that its practice is in no way inconsistent with the pursuit of truth. This is an Indian edition of Unesco's publication of the same title containing selection from the writing of mahatma Gandhi in his own words. as Dr. s. Radhakrishnan says in his introduction," These selection.... will give the reader some idea of the working of Gandhiji's mind, the growth of his thought and the practical techniques which he adopted ".

Genres: Nonfiction, India

227 pages, Kindle Edition

First published January 1, 1999

About the author

Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, commonly known as Mahatma Gandhi, was the preeminent leader of Indian nationalism in British-ruled India. Employing non-violent civil disobedience, Gandhi led India to independence and inspired movements for non-violence, civil rights and freedom across the world.

The son of a senior government official, Gandhi was born and raised in a Hindu Bania community in coastal Gujarat, and trained in law in London. Gandhi became famous by fighting for the civil rights of Muslim and Hindu Indians in South Africa, using new techniques of non-violent civil disobedience that he developed. Returning to India in 1915, he set about organizing peasants to protest excessive land-taxes. A lifelong opponent of "communalism" (i.e. basing politics on religion) he reached out widely to all religious groups. He became a leader of Muslims protesting the declining status of the Caliphate. Assuming leadership of the Indian National Congress in 1921, Gandhi led nationwide campaigns for easing poverty, expanding women's rights, building religious and ethnic amity, ending untouchability, increasing economic self-reliance, and above all for achieving Swaraj—the independence of India from British domination. His spiritual teacher was the Jain philosopher/poet Shrimad Rajchandra.

Reviews

[Ram · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a profoundly illuminating critique of the legal profession, centered on the moral responsibility of its practitioners.

The book's primary strength lies in its relentless insistence that a lawyer’s chief loyalty must be to Truth and justice, requiring them to elevate community service and reconciliation above personal enrichment and technical victory.

Gandhi views the conventional, adversarial legal system as possessing a fundamental constraint, arguing that it often exacerbates conflict, fosters dishonesty for client gain, and ultimately undermines ethical principles through its focus on formalism.

The most remarkable insight is his conclusion, drawn from his early career experiences, that the ultimate purpose of the legal practice is to facilitate compromise and understanding between disputing parties, a conviction that shaped his life’s philosophy.

This collection offers essential reading for anyone seeking to understand the ethical foundations of social justice advocacy and a higher spiritual standard for professional life.

[Achuth Matadha Gurumallpal · Rating 3 out of 5]

Great to read.. this was a prescribed English text book for BBALLB .. its written great and its very inspiring

[Anushka Anand · Rating 2 out of 5]

Read for class.

[Jai Bharath · Rating 5 out of 5]

the book comprised of Gandhi's law professional experience in his life of experiments with truth.