INJUSTICE IN JUSTICE

Chapter-III

Part I containing chapters I and II is here.

It wasn’t a lot of work. Vijay had to take a parcel from Paharganj and drop it at Chandni Chowk twice every week. He would be paid six thousand rupees every month. That was a lot of money. Vijay was happy with but over time, he started to feel inquisitive about why he was being paid so much and what was in the parcel.

One day, after completing his work, he went to Faraz to find answers. The answers left him speechless. The parcel contained acid pills, a high class drug which hits the central nervous system. This drug made people dream of heaven and took them to hell.

He wanted to quit this job now, but there was no way out. He knew that he was doing a wrong thing, but that was responsible for getting him the right things in his life. He wasn’t sure if he was to thank Faraz or blame him. But he knew one thing: if he had to survive this was his only way out. He needed happiness even if it was in the form of hallucination, his requiem for a dream.

In a matter of few months, in search for more jazz up his brain, he tried and continued with a lot more things. Diluter, hashish, speed, ecstasy, acid and heroine. More wants required more money. Now the school fee wasn’t the only concern. Once again, he turned to his old friend, Faraz for more money.

He did not dislike these things; instead he started liking them as these were the only things that never left him. Like a task which needs to be completed, and missions which need to be accomplished. These things gave him a life to be lived. He was to supply drugs to different consumers now. More of a drug peddling service than a courier boy work now.

Chapter IV

He was sitting at his place on a hot summer night. He had somehow managed to pass 12^th grade. He was ready to join a law college in Delhi, make new friends and enjoy his life. Never had he thought that all this was never going to happen.

There was a knock at the door. Vijay was surprised; hardly anyone knocked at his doors other than the salesmen or the old lady next door who seldom used to come to his house to check for his wellbeing. All this used to happen at the day time. It couldn’t be a friend. He used to have a lot many of them during the brighter days. But when his life became dark, friends too had stopped coming.

Moments later to his shock he realized that the police was at the door. He did not try to run away. He just walked away with them, without speaking a word. As if he knew everything. Life had taught so much to him. It skipped the lessons that taught how life can handle unequal shares of good and bad but that in strict equality lies law’s justice.

CHAPTER-V

Exactly two years after his parents death he stood before the court of law aware of the mistake made by him. At this juncture of life, the law was ready to punish him. But where were law and the society when he needed help, when he chose this path?

Was it bad to be an anti-social element when the social elements are anti-you. Endless questions with no answers told the story of the boy Vijaynath, who wanted to celebrate life . But instead he had to take all the pains. Was it his fault or of the circumstances? He himself couldn’t find any answers. On the day of the verdict in the court he only said: “I was never like this”.

He knew what was going on and he knew he was responsible for it, but he also knew that destitution and loneliness left him no choice. He was not angry with the court’s verdict. But he was sure that the lack of understanding by law of the society and its effect on people was ‘injustice in justice’.

Injustice in Justice

Chapter I

“I was never like this” were the words of the twenty year old boy Vijaynath. He could speak no more although a lot was expected to be said. He had been sentenced to 7 years of imprisonment for drug trafficking under the NDPS Act.

Two years ago, he was just another school going kid preparing for CLAT. On the night of Diwali, 14^th October, 2005 his life changed forever. He had come back to his room when the thought of switching on the TV came to his mind. This was his first Diwali without his parents who had left the town to meet his aunt.

Everything seemed to be going well with friends at his place ready to brighten the night already illumined by candles and fire crackers. His parents were on their way back to Delhi from Kanpur. He never really watched TV on Diwalis.

But just as he was going through the channels, his eyes started stinging, unable to see, his hands started shaking, paralyzed. The news flashed on every news channel. The Air India flight from Kanpur to Delhi had crashed midway at Roorhki. None of the passengers in the aircraft had survived. His parents, the affluent Damannath and Devinanath were on that plane.

Looking outside the window his eyes witnessed the story his heart refused to believe. The silent candles looked remorseful and fire crackers shrieked with grief.

CHAPTER II

The next day a plethora of people came to his house. Some were well wishers who wished him well. Others were well wishers who in hearts wished him unwell. Many were selfishly concerned about their own interests after his parent’s death.

The share holders of his father’s company held their claim, leaving behind little for Vijay. With no one to support him, the young boy had no way of making the business run. Initially the money that was left was able to sustain him for some time. But then another blow of life, that of destitution left him hopeless.

Dialogues from the Hindi movies became monologues, his monologues. There was a house but no home. There were rooms with no people. Helplessness became his day, loneliness his night. The candle was still burning though, melting away the wax which held his life to the spine.

There was no way he could support his life with such little resources. And the fact that he was just in 12th grade with no experience made him more helpless.

Leave alone the payment of his expenses and school fee, maintaining the house itself was proving undoable. Never had he realized that money and family were of such value. His other family members refused to show their faces after a few months as they knew that it was better not to know the liability that he was.

When the time of fee payment came up he knew he couldn’t pay the amount. This incident made him nervous. But he didn’t want to quit on it. He wanted to study and do well in life but to do this he needed money.

This is when he met Faraz. There was not much common between the two guys. Vijay was a school going kid where as Faraz was a soon to be college dropout. But there was something in Faraz that attracted Vijay to him.

Faraz had all the time in the world to loiter around schools and colleges and spend loads of money on loads of things. This very fact intrigued Vijay. Vijay met Faraz on his way back from school at the Chandni Chowk red light. Not the best place for a conversation but that was the place.

As time passed by, their friendship became much more than a mere acquaintance.  This is when Vijay sought Faraz’s help to get him work. Vijay knew Faraz could help him. As the day of the fee payment came closer, any kind of work seemed right to Vijay as long as it paid him well enough. Faraz had a deal for him. The deal that would change his life forever.

To be continued…

Author: Thakur

Editor: LegalPoet

Bangalore

Following LegallyIndia’s hard hitting analysis of how associates were depressed, suppressed and sex starved, BigKick, a law firm based in Bangalore has promised staff Black Berries, Eye Pads and an Acu-Pressure Assisting Loo as a part of its ‘Happy HR’ measures.

“Our black berries come from a forest in Kenya. These berries are rich in anti-C vitamins and have great quantity of oxidants too. These will help in quick ageing of skin and will make are young hires look old. After all, clients want to see old and mature faces”, explained Budha Sami, partner at the BigKick law firm.

According to one of the senior associates, eye pads are the best HR measure BigKick has taken. “My eyes used to turn purple from the work done on computers. This used to scare my kids away from me. Sometimes they used to laugh at me, wondering how I could change my eye colour like Disney’s cartoons".
"Now with the eye pad I can hopefully pray for normal coloured eye and a happy family life”, he adds.

“I have nearly lost my sight”, says a senior associate, who has been a senior associate since he was appointed as a senior associate, “But with these eye pads, I can breathe easy”.

Finally Indian Law Firm has got Acu-Pressure Loos, coming straight from China “Our research shows that in tensed workplaces, washroom moments are the times when you can introspect and hear your body and soul talk", says Karan Ben, HR head at BigKick.

"I proposed the firm that they attach acupressure mats on the floors of the toilet seats to help the members of law firms use this ancient technique to remain fit and happy”, says Acu Chang, the maker of the device.

Interestingly Acu Chang could not sell any of his devices in China, from where he originally belongs.

It is learnt that the firm has also procured Gary Kirsten’s report on how sex can improve performance at work.

“We are also planning to have in-house bunk beds which can be converted into a double beds or triple beds with little modification. People can use the beds in whatever manner they want. This was in our mind right after section 377 was repealed”, says Budha Sami who proudly admits that his firm is now ‘happy and gay’.

False News With Balls News Network
Image from here.

“Exorcism of Emily Rose”, a horror classic is based on the true story of Anneliese Michel, a 17 year old girl in Germany who was exorcised by her parents and two priests.  She suffered from schizophrenia which could be treated by medicines. But her parents relied on exorcism rituals to cure her. She died after few days of exorcism due to malnutrition and starvation.

The court observed that because of lack of nutrition her body was unable to recover from the injuries which were result of both exorcism as well as self infliction and awarded all the four accused imprisonment of six months.

Recently a similar instance happened in Kodinar near Rajkot. Farida (36 yrs) died when she was not given food for 22 days and made to sleep on sand under sun by her husband and in-law who believed her to be ‘possessed’.

Epilepsy or Possession

Epilepsy (also known as fits or seizures) results from rapid uncontrolled electrical activities of the brain. This could result in contraction of muscles and loss of consciousness for several minutes. The patient may fall on to floor, shake tremendously, urinate or foam at mouth.

Some people consider these symptoms signs of possession. In places like Mehendi Pur Ke Balaji, Rajasthan many frauds are self proclaimed specialists in treating cases of possession. Due to lack of awareness many people are duped in to this trap.

The treatment is not only orthodox but cruel most of the times. Blowing cow-dung smoke, burning pig excreta, beating or pulling the victim’s hair and reciting prayers or mantras are common. The worst suffers are women patients who are sometimes molested, raped or sexually harassed in name of the ritual.

Exorcism: the Global Phenomenon

Exorcism means “to bind by oath”.  It is a ritualistic act of driving out evil spirits from the victims body. It is believed that through exorcism saints in various religions and communities win over evil.

In Ethiopia many forms of zar possession are known to occur.  Zar spirits typically possess women whose husbands intend to marry an additional wife or there are domestic conflicts present in the family.  Exorcism of the zar spirit results in a complicated, large and expensive dance ceremony for the victim.

After the expensive ceremony wives have been known to threaten a relapse if their demands are not met; consequently extorting further economic sacrifices from their husbands. The “zar possession strategy” to get needs met has been adopted by women (and some men) throughout the world: Muslim Somali, Muslim Sudan, Egypt, parts of North Africa, Arabia, East Africa, Arabia, South America etc. The ritual mainly guards the notions of family in these cultures.

When Exorcists were Doctors:

The works of the Exorcists in some societies were similar to doctors in the present times; they cured illness, misfortune and tough luck of their patients.

In ancient Mesopotamia both physical and psychological sickness were considered result of possession. Ancient Babylonian priests were required to destroy the wax image of a demon in order to destroy the attached spirit. Treatment included prayers as well as direct challenges to the demons which were believed to inflict diseases of every type.

Judaism exorcist rituals can be traced back to the 1^st century AD.  The dybbuk is considered an evil spirit which possesses the soul of its victim causing mental illness and changes in the personality. The dybbuk is exorcised through the victim’s small toe and may either be redeemed or sent to hell.

Shamanism is another similar example. The word shaman comes from the language of the Arctic Tungus which means “one who is excited, moved, or rose.” The shaman is one who dominates spirits and can introduce them into his own body on his choice. “Arctic Hysteria”, the distress caused to women in chilling winter months in Polar Regions is often termed as spirit possession.

Positivist Stage

Nowadays people have set aside their inhibitions and hesitations in visiting a doctor or a medical practitioner. The help of psychiatrists and counsellors are now being preferred. There is more emphasis on the scientific reasoning rather than the spiritual thoughts. Many diseases like jaundice were earlier considered to have spiritual origin but now people have started taking medical advice.

We are conditioned to respect the almighty and fear the evil. The annual celebration of Halloween has somewhere kept the  belief alive that the ghosts and spirits exist.

Exorcism was probably evolved to overcome the miseries of people. In past, there no medical aid was access-able. It was the only effective and viable solution available. Many psychological problems were healed, relations were protected (like Zar possession in Ethiopia) and people were encouraged to be benevolent.

The social evolution has transformed the beliefs of the people. Exorcism in most of the cases has been diluted to mere fraud and superstition. The people (mostly poor and illiterate) are deceived by the self proclaimed religious healers. The lack of medical facilities in villages and poor understanding of epilepsy has encouraged the practice. The Epilepsy Task Force in Sri Lanka has been applauded worldwide for its awareness campaigns in villages. The task force which consists a multi-disciplinary team of doctors and social workers has been instrumental in providing advance medical treatment to the patients.

The post is a duplication of already published work on authors blog www.legaldrift.com.

My cow Gulabo like every other cow in my village has a tendency to chew her grass for long; really long. I read in my grade five science book that the cows can recall some of the chewed grass from their bodily reservoir when required. Nice stuff. All hail the almighty!

One day my cow fell ill; very ill. I took her to the local vet. He told me that Gulabo’s intestines had somersaulted. She could no longer recall the chewed grass. He told me that this disability would at times leave Gulabo without any reservoir of food for long and that she would die soon.

All hail the almighty!

I heard my friend who is in an NLU was fired from a law firm job. His aged, benign lawyer uncle told him that he had not ruminated upon law and that it was important. When you ruminate you digest well. You can also recall the thing well. This can impress everyone and keep you put on your job.

But he had gulped his water, his food and yes even his books. He digested nothing. Rumination was beyond his capability.

All hail the almighty!

My cow is dead.

My friend just as good.

:-{O             (A moustached simily. Totally out of context).

New Delhi

In a recent judgment passed by the Honourable Supreme Court of India, a 5 judge bench declared ‘The Right to have Nimbu Paani in summers and Hot Jalebis in winters’ a fundamental right. The SC passed this judgment in response to two PILs, one which was filed two days ago and another filed two decades ago.

“The SC has broadened the scope of Right to Life to include a right to life of respect and dignity and not merely animal existence. Similarly we hold that not having Nimbu Paani in summers and Hot Jalebis in winters would be sub-human ”.

“It reflects the constant struggle of human beings to do better. I mean, which other animal can make Nimbu Paani. They just have to drink water”, said Justice Nimbudaripad.

“The sweet, salt, spicy and sour taste of Nimbu Paani is reflective of our rich cultural heritage too which is an amalgamation of all cultures, of all tastes. Similarly we expect citizens of different religion to come together and make a strong citizenry just as various ingredient of Nimbu Paani make a refreshing drink”, the judgment read.

“Hot Jalebi is so very tasty in winters than no Indian can be deprived of that right”, said justice Bhalla, as large quantities of saliva ran down his mouth, wetting the whole judgment which ran into 1459 pages.

The judge, slightly embarrassed ordered the steno to print it again amidst vehement opposition by environmentalist arguing that so many trees were cut for those saliva wetted pages. It was decided to keep the pages in the SC museum’s almanac as a celebration of this landmark judgment.

“We also order makers of jalebis to make jalebis in desi ghee only. Oil should not be used. If this precedent is followed by America, where Indian dishes are relished, we might have another invasion in the middle east for want of oil in America to make Jalebis”.

Aggrieved by this Patrick Stark, an American said, “Buggers! At least we would enforce the orders of the court which would lead to oil scarcity”. Barbhajan Singh, in response to the American has reported to have something like ‘Oi! ni teri paaen di”. Barbhajan said that he was saying ‘Oi! Nimbu Paani dae’! Sach-chin Bendulkar, his friend however clarified that this is a ‘Punjabi swear word’.

False news with balls news network.

PS: This is not to hurt the sentiments of anyone, this should be read as a humorous reading and often I love to express my rights given by the Constitution of India.

I was thinking one day that how economics plays an important role and how it is related to our everyday life and in each decision we make. My economics teacher always emphasis on to look and think in innovative ways how economics is closely related to our life, suddenly I realised how the laws of economics are closely related to how most boys think about love and girls reciprocate in a market of love. As most of the laws of economics is based on assumptions and taking all things as constant, a lot of assumptions need to be made while going through this tutorial. Hope it would be fun and quite informative while reading this.

To begin with consider that the market of love is a open market (i.e., there is no monopoly by a single individual, God can only help if there is a Greek-god in your class or college with lot of bucks in his pocket) with a fair competition (Can’t help if someone with muscle power (Seniorus Bikerboyidae in Folly Nariman's words) tries to get hold of beautiful angels (Fresherus Hotnessa again in Folly Nariman's words ) in your class). So, to start with let’s see what Karl Marx, the great economist says about society and how money is important in our life.

Marxian Analysis of Love: The society is based on two things, the economic base and the superstructure (all other things in society). The super structure is depended on the economic base. Inother words, the whole story of finding and keeping a love is dependent on the money you have.

The law of supply of love states that higher is money more is the supply (getting a beautiful babe), i.e., money is directly related to money.

Similarly, the law of demand of love states that the higher is the price (the amount of money a boy needs to spend), lower is the demand for that girl, as even though many people want to date but don’t have the means to get her. But, there are exceptions to the law of demand; it is not pplicable for those girls who are considered to be symbol of status. Some, girls are extremely damn beautiful (read Fresherus Hotnessa), boys are ready to pay almost anything to get her love as they are considered to be a symbol of status among their peers and the benefit is your confidence level goes up while you see others feeling jealous when you are with her. For, those girls my advice is try to get whatever you can, you hold a monopoly and you have the power to make decisions.

However, there is law of diminishing marginal utility works; it works in the either way for a boy and a girl as well. Utility is nothing but the psychological satisfaction derived. The law of diminishing marginal utility, states that more and more of a thing we get, the intensity of our desire for that thing tends to diminish. Once, a boy start spending more and more, at a point the satisfaction the girl was getting from the gifts gets diminished. Similarly, once a boy start getting  more from the girl after a point he will not get the satisfaction he earlier used to get. So, it is equally important for both the boy and girl maintain the balance otherwise the fun would soon be over.

There is nothing to hide that girls love money and to be praised, so money constitutes an important part in love. No money, no love. There are four factors of love which determines your level of success in love, they are as follows:

Four Factors of Love: Money (K), Physical attributes (P), Intelligence (I), your own creative touch (C)

There is a direct relationship between the physical inputs (K, P, I, C) and outputs (mental and physical benefits, I have explained that while explaining the psychology part at last) obtained from employment of these inputs. This functional relationship is known as production function of love. 

The law of return will explain the change in output as a result of change in input. In a short run, the only thing you can increase or decrease is the amount of money you have and spend on your girl friend other things over a long run may be changed but by that time you  develop those skills, you will lose her. A tip, try to find someone is of the same or below your economic status of living or you may soon become a bankrupt spending all your bucks on a rich babe. The utility (the psychological satisfaction derived) from spending will not be reached.

In a short run, the law of variable proportion works, which states that ‘if more and more unitsof variable factor are employed with fixed factors, total physical product (TPP) (literally, pun intended) increases at an increasing rate in the beginning, then increases at a diminishing rate and finally start falling’.

In the first phase known as stage of increasing returns, TPP increases at an increasing rate with increase in inputs (gifts and expensive dates). In the first few days, you can easily move on to see-each other stage to holding hands and you proceed to holding her waist with inputs obviously. The marginal physical product (MPP i.e., the addition to the total output (benefit) from an extra unit of input) keeps on rising and reaches its highest.

The second phase, or stage of diminishing return the TPP increases at a slower rate and MPP starts falling. In this stage you will find that though there may be a possibility of moving on to a kiss, to a smooch and further. The rate of progress would be slow. Keep your patience, though you will notice inspite of gifts you are not making quick progress like earlier stages, hold on let the relationship grow.

The third phase, or stage of declining returns, in this the TPP starts declining, even after gifts you are not getting what you want. This is the stage, when most of the clashes start as one starts expecting more from the partner and no one getting satisfied, ultimately the relationship falls apart. My advice: Never expect anything in love.

Most of the relationships stay intact in the second stage, as in the first stage, you are trying to achieve something more and in the third stage, MPP is negative and TPP is falling. In second stage, most of the couples have a bit of understanding and realise this stage. So, neither be too slow, nor be too fast, just maintain the equilibrium situation.

Law of Diminishing Return: In a short run relationship, more employment of variable input (spending) can ultimately led to lesser output or the marginal benefit diminishes. As one of the factors may be changed (money) in a short run, other factors (suppose your muscles) may not be changed, so spending (K) too much may not improve the boy’s chance of getting better benefit. This may happen due the efficient combination is falling out, (you have to spend more to hide your physical or other deficiencies) or may be your quantity of fixed factors have become less compared to your variable factors (your physical attribute is so low, that you might have to spend more than what you have spent earlier to impress her, by this time she must have known your weak point but you are helpless.) As, both must have the same level of satisfaction and there is compromise between the two.

Another tip for boys, girls love to be praised and appreciated. However, if they look good, don’t compliment their looks, they know how good they are, otherwise you wouldn’t have been going around and spending, better compliment their intellect later on in the conversation, like “ that’s really original” or, “I haven’t heard that point of view before” Before she takes off in another direction, finish the conversation with “ nice meeting you, it’s rare meeting someone (insert one of these here): Originally insightful, With interesting experiences, Who make their own opinions, With good taste, As well cultured as you, With their own theories”, etc. This shows that you are quite creative and your level of intelligence. On the other hand, if your woman is with an average looks, you may want to compliment them for their choice of clothes, their hairstyle or whatever it is that does look good about her, like may be her voice or smile. Please don’t over-state, be on the safe-side.

Once, both have started seeing each other and dating, and you have already started investing, let’s explain the cost-benefit analysis of this relationship from a boy’s psychology and insight.

· A boy spends money on a girl as a capital investment to reap profit in future.

· The more is the spending on good capital resources (gifts and expensive dates) better is

chance of getting good output or profit.

· The time one spend, feel good and gets excited is what the break-even point of love, if

one is not finding minimum level of satisfaction for his spending he is actually making

loss, and would not like to continue the relationship.

· The moment you get a kiss is what you have started making profit.

· The moment you get into her, is what you have started making super-normal profit and

hit the jackpot.

· And if you could not succeed, it is your bad-debt. The whole investment on capital was a

wrong calculation and lack of efficient management. Let’s try the luck somewhere else.

Now, let’s analyse what going on in a girl’s mind and why they love money more than anything.

· A girl thinks that the boy must be economically sound and can prove to be a good hubby

in future (economically sound).

· More spending shows that his capability to maintain her lifestyle in future.

· Mental satisfaction is the main thing, the girl thinks her break-even point of love, she

feels good but also the amount of gifts obtained plays an important role.

· When a girl gets emotional, she might give a kiss or might be having a plan to get more

gifts from you. Girls are too complex to understand. It’s like a gamble you might hit the

jackpot or be debt ridden.

· This is where, emotions plays a lot than money but it matters as well. Love for boys is a

means to achieve sex which is the ultimate goal. But girls think sex as a means to achieve

stronger relationship as a goal. She might give you a chance, when she feels financially

safe and secure from your side.

· He was just a fool, she played the way around. She gets “I am the winner” feeling. Now

she will try another fool who can pay her bills.

Fresherus Timidus your first semester course of micro-economics is over. You can now happily sit in the end sem. 

I hope you have heard the famous dialogue by Sunny Deol. Tareek Pae Tareekh means a date after date (i.e. day/month/year). That’s the fate of cases in India. Here is a take on that:

He rose, he sprang and then he spoke

A dialogue in unmistakable baritone:

“Tareekh Pae Tareekh, Tareekh Pae Tareekh”!

And legendary became his shriek.

(I salute Sunny. His only hit?)

Till one day one judge

Rose and sprang and

Began to speak animatedly

On “Tareekh Pae Tareekh”.

You may, said he, look at me and my kindred

Stultified are we (Our numbers are few)

And then you besiege! (That is so lewd)

To end Tareekh Pae Tareekh?

The lawyer is ill, I adjourn the case.

The lawyer is fine, his compatriot is late.

Arrgh! This disease and tricks so cheap

Keep up Tareekh Pae Tareekh.

These lawyers read a famous author (Frost)

(The lawyers read? Good. My Lord!)

The author’s words they carefully tread

Wherever they should (yes even in woods).

And before they sleep

They will go any miles to keep

The promise of Tareekh Pae Tareekh.

Yes on horses the lawyers ride (covering acres)

And Like Bloodhounds they hunt cases (a massacre).

They accumulate cases in a pile.

The pile which now is justifiably riled.

The ‘how’ of the appeasement is a mystery.

The ‘how’ of the appeasement is the history.

The history says that a body is one

And with five cases in five courts

(Without Voldemort’s Horcrux)

To two the lawyer goes; the fate of the three

Is Tareekh Pae Tareekh.

A brave judge he chose to reform.

The Bar rose, full of scorn.

The reform died (no one mourned)

And the bar remained low (shameless, forlorn)

To the judge’s fight, a deathly blow.

And the bench broke (A Bench so weak)

And in the courtrooms, it echoes still:

(Echo courtesy the glistening Teak)

“Tareekh Pae Tareekh, Tareekh Pae Tareekh”.

The summer vacation (a great concept),

All vacate courts and take rest

In countries and destinations wide.

The numbers rise and they speak in no uncertain

Terms of the lovely holiday he spent, that glutton-

Enjoying cakes, wine, beef and mutton (nice taste)

Leaving cadavers and skeletons (of people on his plate)

Delicious kebabs and delicious seekhs

(Lambs and Kids crying for justice, for relief

From a pernicious Mr. Tareekh Pae Tareekh)!

A junior is sent for a case (on whims)

(Well, at last, some work for him)

And when he returns (for a while he lurks)

The senior then asks him the result

In a short sentence: ‘Which date’?

Not who won and who lost,

But a number (depends on fate)?

Who loses is we and who wins is

Mr. Tareekh Pae Tareekh.

Tribunals come, Lok Adalats come

‘Success stories: a case study’.

Success stories come and fun they make

Of the difference between real and reel

Reel is pleasantly sunny (Sunny?)

Real is Tareekh Pae Tareekh.

                                                                     Legal Poet

IDIA teams are free from bureaucratic controls and institutional requirements. It is a volunteer based movement which any socially motivated law student can initiate at his/her Law College. Here is a brief primer:

1.      Read the concept note on IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education) to get to know about IDIA in complete detail.

2.      In your college inform as many people as you can. Tell your friends about it and get in touch with the Legal Aid Society and other related groups. Send the concept note to the group/batch email accounts. Get the support of the faculty too.

Please note that IDIA has no hierarchical organisation though team leaders are responsible for the allotted tasks.

After gathering considerable support of the students and faculty, talk to your Vice Chancellor/Director about IDIA and brainstorm how your law college can start similar initiatives in and around the area.

You can put a letter by the Vice Chancellor/Director on notice boards asking students to join the IDIA team.

3.      Identify senior secondary schools (schools till class 12) situated in rural/economically backward areas in and around your college. See if you know some student/teacher from that school so that convincing the authorities becomes easier. You can also talk to the Principal of the school directly.

4.      After discussing it with the school principal decide on some specific day when the IDIA team will visit the school for the talk/seminar and the aptitude test. Prepare well in advance. Talking about local legal personalities, stars go well with the students and so does the mention of placement figures etc.

5.      Talk and test- Ideally you will need to reserve two classes (of 45 minutes each, approximately) for the two tasks. During the pre-decided day the first class is utilised for a small talk on CLAT, National Law Schools and Law as a career option. In the second class the aptitude test (which is available to the IDIA teams) is administered to the students.

6.      Select- The students who score the highest in the aptitude test are selected after consultation with their teachers. The students selected should have a good chance of cracking CLAT on being provided with coaching.

The aptitude test’s marks are to be tabulated in an excel file.

Those students who are economically well off are not give free CLAT coaching but can surely keep in touch for guidance/mentoring etc. Economically poor students qualify for free CLAT coaching. Their full details should be kept for record.

7.      Share- Students are encouraged to share their experiences on the school visits etc. Our blog www.idially.blogspot.com should provide you a ready reference on that.

8.      Reach out- Visit as many schools as possible. Join the Facebook page, the blog, the group mails etc. For any clarification you can contact Prof. Shamnad Basheer of NUJS at shamnad[at]gmail[dot]com or Deepak Raju, a 5^th year student at NUJS who is coordinating with the IDIA regional teams at deepakelanthoor[at]gmail[dot]com,

9.      Funding and support- Try to get as many funds as possible. Travel, accommodation, printing costs etc. require money and socially committed lawyers, law firms, NGOs, philanthropists etc. should be willing to help you.

You can send the IDIA funding note to prospective donors.
IDIA has a tie-up with IMS for free CLAT coaching. If your area does not have an IMS center you will also need to involve a CLAT coaching institution to train the selected students.

There is a lot more that IDIA teams are doing. You will get to know about that with time when you become the part of the Google groups which have such great levels of activity that it has been difficult to keep with the inflow of emails! J

This is a reproduction of the post here. To keep in touch with what IDIA teams are doing please do follow our blog http://idially.blogspot.com/

The IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education) project, conceptualised and spearheaded by Prof. Shamnad Basheer (IPR Chair Professor, NUJS) aims to address the concern of NLUs becoming elitist. IDIA endeavours to help students from rural areas, poor backgrounds, vernancular medium schools etc. make it to the top NLUs.

That NLUs are becoming elitist was previously an anecdotal speculation. However, results coming from a survey conducted with 87 first year students (batch of 2014) at NUJS prove it to be a fact:

ü  97.7% of the students studied in English medium schools.

ü  Schools of 88.51% students were in an urban area.

ü  82.76% of the students took coaching for CLAT.

ü  Only 4.6% of the students have family incomes less than 1 lac rupees pa.

The rural-urban/rich-poor divide becomes clearer still: there are no students (0 %) from Haryana, Himachal Pradesh, J & K or even Punjab while 2% of the students are from Chandigarh alone. Nine students (10.34%) are from Delhi (NCT).

Now LST, a leading coaching institution has atleast 4 centers in Delhi and 2 centers in Chandigarh. It is not difficult to see what makes students in cities tick. There is no LST center in Himachal or J & K.  

That CLAT is in itself is a pro elititist/english-educated entrance exam is shown in this superlative piece by Prof. Basheer. He argues that a logic reasoning based CLAT with less emphasis on English language, static GK etc. will not only result in better law students but will also ensure a level playing field for all students.

Here is the proverbial last straw: 10.34% of the students are from Maharashtra (a very rich/urban state) while none of the students are from Chattisgarh or Orrisa (poor states) [1]. The reasons are not hard to find: the CLAT form at 2500 bucks is expensive, CLAT coaching at 25000 bucks is expensive and the fees at NLUs is very pricey too.

Another useful insight: A large number of students are from places where the top NLUs are situated. Their presence seems to have contributed towards increased level of awareness. The division is: Karnatka (NLSIU) 9.2%, Andhra Pradesh (NALSAR) 5.75%, West Bengal (NUJS) 16.09% and Rajasthan (NLUJ) 4.6%.

Finally in rural/poor regions of our country, there is a deplorable lack of awareness about law as a career option; NLUs or CLAT are an unheard commodity. Pilot projects in Pelling (Sikkim), Tumkur (Karnatka) and Shanti Bhavan (Tamil Nadu) prove this empirically.

The IDIA project wants to change this around.

Awareness programs about Law-CLAT-NLUs; identification of students with an aptitude for law and finally establishing tie-ups with coaching institutions to train students free of cost are some of the steps IDIA takes. To those who make it to the top NLUs scholarships, stipends and mentoring too will be provided.

We believe that the top-notch education and career opportunities the students will get in NLUs shall ensure grass-root human resource development. It is hoped that once successful the students will invest back in the communities they represent. Also our law schools will nurture more diverse ideas and research.

[1] However, 5.75% of the students are from Bihar, 3.45% from Jharkhand. Students from this part of the country have done well in other competitive exams too (IIT-JEE, Civil Services). An interesting case study?

Part II- IDIA: Helping Potted Frogs (Kup Manduka) Thrive in Seas

KupManduka is the story of ‘the frog in a well/pot’. The frog jumps from wall to wall of the well/pot and feels proud. However, when he finds itself in the sea, he comes to know that frogs in the sea jump much further. He is crestfallen.

I take out the element of pride. My frog can jump from one wall to another because of the constrained environment he is in. His vision is limited by the walls and so are his jumps. The body achieves what the mind can conceive. You cannot hit a target which you cannot see.

When my frog is thrown into a sea, he finds himself lost. With no one to guide him, he is unable to find his way. The harsh environment and the cut lung competition stifles him. However, when a mentor guides him, the frog thrives.

THE FROG OF THE POT

Once upon a time a frog

Croaked aloud in an earthy pot.

The croak was of victory for

The dear frog had jumped from one

Corner to another corner

And in the pot there was

A loud, a resounding murmur.

A farmer, swarthy dark and strong

Impressed and obviously happy

Took the frog, his pet, his chappy

To a big, blue pond.

There the frog jumped;

Jumped forward and ahead

And his confidence took that many steps

………………………………..backwards!

And then the fission of dreams

In the tough, mad competition.

But hail Muse! The farmer came,

Touched a vein and knocked his brain

And said aloud “Jump Again”!

Though alone, he clapped- resounding claps!

The frog remembered the house and its chaps,

The farmer and his swarthy skin,

The earthy pot under the tin.

And hail him! The dreams did fuse.

And fusion does ten times produce-

Energy. Energy to jump far and wide

Which in time proves true and right

So that the frog of the pot

Can be a winner in the pond

And croak aloud, croaks that resound!

And those resounding croaks

Shall one day break

The earthy walls; the boundaries laid

And create a space, a boundless space

Where frogs can jump; jumps that astound

And croak aloud, croaks that resound.

The IDIA family is growing well with law firms, lawyers, NGOs and law schools coming out in support. Here is the Facebook page to keep you updated. Here is how you can help.

PS- Wow! I didn’t even speak of the unaffordable fees at NLUs.

PS 2- Please do follow the blog and join the Facebook page. Also, cartloads of thanks to LegallyIndia for fantastic support to IDIA.

Parivar Legal, an Indian family run law firm is all set to have DNA Mapping as a part of its recruitment checklist. “We want our recent hires to have some of our family blood running in them. Our family is associated with acute legal acumen and is renowned for being legal heavyweights”, said Mr. Karta Sharma, managing partner of Parivar Legal.

Mr. Sharma a true legal heavyweight weighs at 120 kilograms while his son at Harvard Law School stands at 127 kilograms.

BrainWaker a legal talent management company has been hired to provide ‘blood sampling units’ in Bangalore, Hyderabad and Kolkata “We chose these places for their proximity to NLSIU, NALSAR and NUJS”, said Kitkit Lactose of Brainwaker.

“This is all rubbish”, barks Arun Gupta, partner at Laavaris Legal, a non family run law firm. “I stand at 125 kilograms and can claim to be a legal heavyweight without having genes or blood of any family”, he says, not making any sense. I mean you got to have some genes, at least.

It is understood the Paarivar Legal has stocked its libraries with copies of “Harry Potter v. Draco Malfoy: Why Malfoy always wins” as a part of its initiative to encourage its family members to remain pure bloods.

According to our sources, serious apprehensions regarding younger members of Parivar Legal procreating with the lasses of foreign law firms and disturbing the family lineage have been raised. For this very reason the entry of foreign law firms have been opposed by Parivar Legal.

Paarival Legal has also been in contact with the Khap Panchayats. It is now confirmed that the Khap Panchayats have suggested the firm that they should hire from Ginnie’s Dal Inter-Planet Law School (GPLS) as its founder happily supports similar family-run initiatives.

False News With Balls News Network

India should be broken up into smaller states!

If someone said that, you would definitely think the guy is a fanatic and vehemently oppose it. One of the arguments we usually give against such ideas of disintegration is that the smaller parts that are created will not be able to survive economically.

The argument seems logical. The areas which want to be regarded as a separate state are economically backward. They seem likes leeches on the other parts of the state which are well developed. They are like the black sheep of the state. So how will they survive on their own? It’s not possible.

Well to my surprise, I found out that it is in fact quite possible. What is even more surprising is that these new states develop at a better and faster rate than the parent states. Surprised? I sure was.

Let us consider the record of three states that were carved out in 2000- Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh and Uttarakhand. We have to ignore the first three four years as they are the transitional years, the new state is still organising itself.

Let us concentrate on the time duration from 2004-05 to 2008-09. The GDP of rise in the three states was Jharkhand 8.45%, Chhattisgarh 7.35% and Uttarakhand 9.31%. Now that is fast. It is even more astonishing if we consider the fact that these areas (when part of the parent state) were considered stagnated economies.

Of course they were exemptions by the government. There are a few states like Kashmir (5.98%) and Himachal Pradesh (8.47%) that are given the same exemptions. The fact that the new states have outdone the old states in terms of GDP growth is commendable.

Although we cannot ignore the widespread corruption that is prevalent in these states. Mining licenses were ‘sold’ instead of giving them to the highest bidder. . To quote Mr. Swaminathan S. Anklesair Aiyar, “Alas, this problem affects the whole of India: Natural resources from coal to the telecom spectrum are constantly gifted to favoured parties instead of being auctioned, and this enables politicians to amass fortunes. But just as the telecom revolution has been good for India despite corruption, so has private entry into mining and processing.”

Jharkhand and Chhattisgarh account for 68% of the Maoist attacks. There is gross violation of civil rights. Inspite of all this, it has been able to achieve such high growth rates which is surprising, in a good way.  

What will happen to Telengana? I don't know. I am napster not Nostradamus. 

A foreigner who had come to India and lived here for a couple of years had once told me, “India is a Union of 28 countries rather than a union of 26 States”.

It is better if I make it clear that this post deals with only the economic advantages that have been seen due to creation of new states. I am not taking sides on whether formation of new states is good or bad. There are various other things that need to be taken care of while making a decision. This is almost like a myth buster, it just goes to show that sometimes, when economically backward areas are given the opportunity to grow separately, they can exceed expectations. I have no intention to belittle any state or region so please do not get that impression. 

All the statistics have been taken from reliable internet sources and government notifications in newspapers. This is clearly my personal view. I would love to know what you think about it.  

Constructive suggestions  and blog requests are welcome. :)

[Click here to read The Recruit: Part 1]

It was a bright and sunny Monday morning. Dressed nattily in my best suit and carrying my certificates in a lucky folder, I stepped out of my hotel to catch the tube to Moorgate station. I already knew that the journey should take me about seventeen minutes and thirty-one seconds door-to-door having used a stopwatch to time my earlier expedition. This gave me an hour to spare- enough time to reach there and compose myself mentally.

Then, two things happened:

One, when I stepped out of the Moorgate tube station, I was appalled to find that it was raining. I had not accounted for the gloriously uncertain English weather.

Two, since I hadn't noted down which exit I had used earlier, I was completely lost. Moorgate station has eight exits.

After exploring each exit in turn, I found the right exit and waited for the rain to abate. It showed no signs of stopping. The clock was ticking and since I had absolutely no desire to walk into my first ever interview looking like a drowned rat, I paid a visit to the station store and was soon the proud owner of an umbrella (1 Nos., £10). I reached the office ten minutes before my interview was scheduled to start. Heaving a sigh of relief, I let the good-looking girl at the reception know that I had arrived. 

While I waited for someone to get me, I let my eye wander around the room. Expensive furniture, opulent oak-panelled doors and walls covered with tasteful pieces of art confirmed that the setting was carefully calculated to impress and/or intimidate the outsider. It definitely worked. I wondered if I belonged here.

A quarter of an hour later, I looked up to see a very thin and slightly surly looking lady walking up to me. As she came closer, I saw that she was in her late twenties but for some strange reason, she reminded me of the matron from my boarding school days. Perhaps this was because she wore her reading glasses at the absolute end of her long nose and looked at me from above them, making me feel a bit like a twelve-year old insect to be squashed underfoot. I put on my best smile and we exchanged greetings. She informed me, in her prim voice, that she was Janine, the graduate recruitment officer, and that I should follow her to the interview room. My knees shaking, I followed her obediently in complete silence.

We reached the interview room and the interrogation began:

Janine: Would you like tea or coffee?

Nandii: I'll just have some water, thank you.

(Bob's comments: I thought it best to avoid an embarrassing and potentially irreversible spillage on a suit I might need for future interviews.)

Janine: Still or sparkling?

Nandii: Still, thank you.

(Bob comments: I could not fathom for the life of me why she had offered me plain soda. I declined because I was not sure how much the combination of harmonic flatulence and rumbling noises from my stomach would impress my interviewer. However, given the state of my nerves. if she added some whisky to that "sparking water" I would have been more than willing to give it a shot.)

Janine: Shall we begin then?

Nandii: Yes, please.

(Bob's comments: The matron was my interviewer- great! This made me re-assess my place in the universe since I didn't even merit a fee-earner after being flown 6,000 miles.)

 Janine: So what influenced your decision to study law?

Nandii: Well, I have had a passion for logical reasoning and a flair for language from an early age. It seemed logical to combine the two and law presented me with the perfect career option.

(Bob's comments: Of course, I cleverly omitted to mention the part where I did abysmally in my board exams so no other college would touch me with a barge pole. Also how I I fluked the entrance test and scraped through four years of law school.)

 Janine: Why did you choose London?

Nandii: London has historically been an important international business centre. Also, since it is a cosmopolitan city and is reaping the rewards of the current financial boom it would be the ideal place for me to start my legal career.

(Bob's comments: In 2005, each British Pound could be traded in for 88 Indian rupees. For a fuller list of reasons of why I chose London please see- All aboard the Brain Drain Express?)

 Janine: Why did you choose Colby, Hewitt and Richards? What makes us different from our competitors?

Nandii: Apart from being known world-wide for its transactional expertise, Colby, Hewitt and Richards is reputed to be the firm for the go-getter. Unlike other firms, being highly ambitious is not seen as a bad thing here. As hard work, vision and creativity are rewarded richly here, it seems a natural choice for me.

(Bob's comments: Competitive cut-throats employed by the firm did not figure in my decision-making at all. Simply put, the firm had paid for my friend's trip to Madame Tussuad's and it seemed like an easy con to pull. Other firms were smarter and did not fall for it.)

 Janine: What would you say is the main thing that motivates you?

Nandii: The desire to learn and prove myself the best in my field is my greatest motivation.

(Bob's comments: A blatant lie. Sex with hot chicks- even the possibility of it- was and still is my greatest motivator. Money comes in a close second.)

 Janine: How do you react to high pressure situations?

Nandii: One of my best assets is the ability to thrive on pressure. I am a calm and collected person who focuses on solutions and reaching the best results for all concerned parties. 

(Bob's comments: I've always reacted well to such a situation. I face it every morning. Sometimes twice or thrice a day when I have eaten a dodgy curry. In fact, I sensed a high-pressure situation building even as I answered the question.)

Janine: What is more important- your job or your salary?

Nandii: Money is important but only to an extent. I think I would be quite happy doing what I love even if it wasn't very lucrative. Money always follows success.  

(Bob's comments: I didn't know why I was being asked this question. If I didn't love the money, I wouldn't be at the interview. I would be working with an NGO in a remote village, helping people who were distressed by more than the latest rise in customs duty.)

Janine: If you were an animal, which one would you be?

Nandii: A horse, because horses are hard-working, versatile and dependable.

(Bob's comments: I think the sloth bear would have described me best since I regularly spent 20 hours a day in dreamland. My greatest fear has always been the TV remote being out of reach.)

Janine: If you could have dinner with anyone, dead or alive, who would it be and why?

Nandii: That's an easy one- it would have to be you, because that way I would be able to learn all sorts of things about the firm from an insider. Also, the firm would pick up the tab.  

(Bob's comments: Why on earth would I want to fantasize about taking a dead person to dinner? Creepy. Also, this way I could poison Janine's drink while she powdered her nose and rid the world of the matron menace.) 

Then, two things happened:

One, she turned a deep red and smiled when she heard my last answer. She was blushing.

Two, I realised that unless I said something really stupid, I had got the job.

The rest of the interview was a breeze. We discussed, among other things, the merits of Brick Lane's Chicken Tikka Masala and analysed England's chances on its upcoming cricket tour of India (if you remember we trounced them in 2006). We parted half an hour later on cordial terms.

Three weeks later, I got an offer letter from Colby, Hewitt and Richards LLP along with a handwritten sticky-note from Janine which said simply "Dinner when? My treat". I vowed never to overdo the famed Reywal charm again. This was a price too great to pay. Since the offer letter had no date by which I had to accept, I put it aside...for the moment. Life went on.

A few months later, I received an email from Colby, Hewitt and Richards LLP saying that Miss Katie, the new graduate recruitment officer, would be replacing Miss Janine (who was leaving the firm) and that Katie would be answering any queries I had.

"Bom Chicka Wah Wah" was playing in my head as I couriered my signed acceptance letter to London. 

Nandii Reywal, Trainee Solicitor. I really liked the sound of that.

"No one is indispensable" so goes a saying. Life goes on... But how much does the transition cost individuals, is one aspect we don't analyse until we are affected!
Recently, the Bombay High Court has witnessed the elevation of many judges to the Supreme Court and a couple were also elevated to other courts as Chief Justices... In the process, there have been several cases, part heard, which will require a fresh hearing!
As long as the cases are not of very urgent nature, it is understandable! But what happens when the cases need solutions and the same doesn't reach hearing?
One such interesting case is the dispute between the Forward Markets Commission and the Central Electricity Regulatory Commission, which has been pending for long! Who's jurisdiction is it to deal with electricity futures? The case has been going on... with several adjournments and then later hasn't reached hearing several times... Now the same bench will no longer be available at the HC as one of the judges has been elevated.
In case of criminal appeals, one cannot say how long the process will go on because these do not end fast... in the mean time, if the bench changes, the arguments begin from scratch!
But how does this effect the applicants? The money, I'm sure, is enormous.. The counsels dates, another issue to be organised. And the increasing pendency rate isn't helping...
Where does one go to get justice?

Edification

The teacher had drawn a big apple on the black board and was busy colouring the apple red. As big as the apple was the alphabet ‘A’. This was the pre-nursery class. She heard a few students talking and snapped, “Don’t talk. I have eyes on the back of my head. I can see what every one of you is doing”.

I ran my fingers against my hair on the back of my head to feel that something which the 4 year old me still hadn’t figured was a part of his body. I found nothing. I thought these maybe some of the special powers given to teachers and parents.

Back home dad had brought a coconut. Me and my brother used to carefully observe the work which had to be done on the coconut: dad would take the coconut between his feet and peel off the brown, bark-like cover with a hammer’s claw. 

Then a small, hard and ball-like shell would come out. The three dark engravings over the shell would then be punctured using a sharp object and from these coconut water would come out. This I thought required great effort. “My daddy strongest”; as every kid fantasizes. We of course loved the coconut water which was around 1/4th of a 250ml glass and had to be shared.

That day I hit upon something: I was sure that the teacher’s eyes were hidden by her brown matted hair just like the three engravings on the coconut were hidden by the outer bark like cover. This made for a fabulous, yet intelligent explanation.

Throughout school, I was an introvert kid. Sigmund Freud might owe the introverted-ness to the above incident. I would agree to some extent. Imagine if such a little incident can make such a huge impression, what impact would corporal punishment have on a child’s mind. Does anyone here support hitting children?

Education

I wrote a poem on the Indian education system in standard nine.

Fair, round faces,
Black, twinkling eyes.
Little, fragile bodies,
Bright, inquisitive minds.

Big heavy bags,
Big heavy books.
For tiny toddling kids
On their tenterhooks!

Wisdom is vanishing,
Creativity has no places.
Classics take a bow,
Guides show their face.

Big, mounting tomes
Memorised and crammed.
Young sprightly colts,
Whipped and Whammed.

A parrot-mule crossbreed,
Set to don the scenes.
The diabolic face of extinction,
Hovering on human beings.

The then teenage angst might have exaggerated things but sadly, five years later, things haven’t changed. Teachers continue to hit students, students continue to die or commit suicide and Kapil Sibals continue to believe that as little as a law will remedy the situation.

Entrance exams, nearly all of them, be it CLAT, IIT-JEE or CAT continue to toy with student’s future. CLAT has come in for special criticism. That it tests memory skills rather than reasoning abilities is the primary critique. I hope that this will change. Here is something good in the offing.

Enrichment

This is an entirely disjointed entry. The concern is teachers and their quality. To be a teacher in an NLU, the qualification is straight forward. AN LLB with good marks. An LLM with good marks, preferably from abroad. And a dozen good publications.

Knowledge is a prerequisite. Understandably so. 

What about erudition? All right. Leave this for being vague. Well, what about testing communication skills of would-be teachers? We all know what a person with tons of knowledge does when he goes about in a drone tone. Soporific arm chair scholars. How do we challenge their competence? Poor us. 

Secondly, who teaches our teachers on the art of teaching? I thought the National Judicial Academy in Bhopal did that; but it doesn’t. 

Whether teachers are born or made, I don’t know. But I hope everybody will agree that skills can be improved upon. I would like to see someone offer courses to teachers on various skills. What do you suggest?

Its about 8 30 am, this place is bustling with all sorts of people.There are of course the gentlemen in flawless linen and two  ply cotton shirts, the rich brats with shiny, pointy hair carefully manoeuvred to like they had never been combed in the first place and then theres our type.

Clad in pyjamas, sleeveless jerseys and loose shorts, there just for one purpose - to eat.

Halfway through the numerous helpings of bacon, pancake and sausages I clear my mouth - for a guy who doesnt drink or smoke , being full with the best kind of food there is, is the closest one gets to being 'high;.

"Guys, im leaving delhi in ten days. I can't believe i will be out of here ''

" Excuse me waiter, can we please have a refill of out watermelon juice'. My friend sitting infront of me smiles politely at the waiter  - 'thanks'

I throw him a quizzical look asking him if he was ignoring the question on purpose or something of that sort.

He looks at me , smirks and says ' what you wan to do ? hold hands?'

No best of luck wishes, no reassurances and no reminisces - not what i was expecting.

Three trips to nehru place , four trips to the dentist and several get togethers later.

Here I am, at my table looking at a collage with various photos of my friends and i - needless to say, each one has a story behind it.

I could stare at each one of them for hours, but that doesnt serve the purpose , it just defeats it. In my head, i have these weird notions of law school - and a list of many ' have- to's '

'i have to get in the mooting society, i have to get a good cgpa'... blah blah and the like.

And its tough not too be mired with doubts right now, for as of now i have nothing but anticipation and a destination i have never been to.

And after hours of fantasizing about the future - a line from one of my favourite characters comes to my mind....

And who's to say this isn't what happens? who can tell me my fantasies won't come true?

just this once.

And hence  a vague optimism engulfs me.

I have a peek at the calendar, five more days to go to law school =)

ps - im a first timer when it comes to blogging, any constructive criticism will be appreciated.