WHY LAWYERS ARE THE BACKBONE OF A NATION

Lawyers are not merely a profession but a strong pillar that helps a nation stand firmly.

Lawyers are not confined to merely representing clients in courts and helping them obtain justice. Rather, unlike many other professions, they have acted, they continue to act, and they will always act as a strong pillar in building a nation.

Throughout my life, I have heard only one perception about lawyers: that they are graduates of a three- or five-year law course who assist people in obtaining justice and have no role apart from this.

However, over the years, I have come to realize that they were never, and even today are not, merely one of the many professions in the world. Their role is far greater than what is generally perceived.

If we look at history or even the present day, there are many lawyers who have not only performed their professional duties but have also contributed immensely to society and nation-building.

Historical View

History has witnessed several great leaders who were lawyers by profession but worked incredibly to build the nation. Many of our great leaders and freedom fighters came from a law background. Some of them are mentioned below.

The first name that comes to mind whenever we think of a freedom fighter is Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi. He worked passionately to build an independent nation. He was neither

a social worker nor a politician by profession, nor did he belong to any technical background; rather, he was a law graduate. According to the stereotype, a law graduate is confined only to courtrooms, but history proves otherwise. Similarly, Dr. B. R. Ambedkar, who structured the framework for running the country smoothly, also came from a law background. Many others, such as C. R. Das, C. Rajagopalachari, and Jawaharlal Nehru, also belonged to the legal profession.

By mentioning the above personalities, I do not merely want to show that they were lawyers. Instead, I want to show that they, along with many others who could not be mentioned here, played a pivotal role in building our nation. It is possible that, without their legal background, it would have been much more difficult to organize large movements, frame effective policies, unite people against foreign rule, and lead the nation towards freedom.

In my opinion, it is true that not all lawyers become nation-builders, but many nation-builders have been lawyers. A lawyer is not taught only legal subjects during legal education. Law cannot be created merely by having knowledge of the legal field. It is made according to the needs of society and its continuous changes. Therefore, legal education includes several valuable subjects so that lawyers not only gain legal knowledge but also develop an understanding of society and the people upon whom those laws will ultimately be imposed.

Therefore, we see lawyers contributing immensely to the development of a nation because a nation cannot be developed merely by having good rules and regulations unless they are brought into practice smoothly and effectively.

Modern View

The contribution of lawyers to nation-building by performing roles beyond their profession has not stopped yet. Even today, after receiving a nation built and shaped by earlier lawyers, there are many lawyers who continue to strengthen the nation through their contributions.

Lawyers today do not contribute only by arguing cases in courts. Rather, They file Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to protect the rights of the poor, the environment, and vulnerable groups. They challenge unconstitutional laws and government actions when necessary. Many lawyers become judges and help interpret the Constitution. Some become Members of Parliament, ministers, legal advisers, or members of law commissions, contributing to policymaking. They also provide legal aid to people who cannot afford justice and spread legal awareness so that citizens know their rights and duties.

One name that cannot be ignored whenever the contribution of lawyers is discussed is M. C. Mehta. He has filed numerous Public Interest Litigations (PILs) to protect the environment and promote environmental justice. Similarly, Indira Jaising has continuously worked to improve the condition of people by promoting human rights and protecting the rights of women. Their contributions show that lawyers continue to serve society far beyond the courtroom.

Conclusion

Hence, we can say that lawyers were never, and will never be, confined to their traditional professional role. Rather, they have always contributed, and will continue to contribute, their knowledge, skills, and dedication towards building, strengthening, and shaping the nation. Therefore, lawyers are not merely professionals who represent clients in courts; they are one of the strongest pillars of a nation's progress and development.

“Everyone is a citizen before belonging to any profession, whether it is law or science. Therefore, it becomes everyone's responsibility to love and serve their nation; otherwise, their knowledge and contributions may be directed in the wrong way.”