It
is a great honour and privilege to participate in the 4th Convocation of the Indian
Law Institute. The stars of the Convocation today are indeed the graduating
students. So, I would like to take special privilege in congratulating all the
students present over here, with a special word of congratulations to those
who have received the medals. I would also like to extend my
greetings to the proud parents who will ever cherish the memories of this
day with much greater fondness than the students. I am happy to note
that the Indian Law Institute is empowering the young100 minds with the socially relevant legal
education, skill and ability and inculcates in them the values of professionalism.
It is120 my privilege to
address such an august gathering present here comprising a rich group of academicians
and scholars. The scholars will be going out into the world with one of
the most valued degrees in the world. It is because the Indian Law
Institute has the unique character and distinction of being a convergence
of the three branches of Government - the executive, the legislature and the
judiciary.
The
Indian Law Institute is a signature on the road of the200 legal education whose origins were
enriched by the inaugural function blessed by none other than the first
President of India in the gracious presence of the first Prime Minister of
India and the hon. Chief Justice of India. Since its240 momentous birth in 1956, the
Institute has been amongst the leading centres of legal research in our
country. The Deemed University status has further augmented its
profile manifold. Pandit Nehru’s wishes on the event are recalled at the
Institute as cherished memories of a stirring tribute and recognition of
the men and women of the law. He had300
envisioned the Institute as an instrument to make an invaluable
contribution to the advancement of a modern welfare State. I am happy to
note that the Institute is aiming at cultivating the science of law, promoting
advanced studies and research in law so as to meet the social, economic
and other needs of the Indian people, encouraging and conducting investigations360 in legal and allied fields and imparting
instructions in law. I am also happy to note that the Institute is
working to uphold the sacred object of imparting legal education as justice education
to transform the young minds as a400
human resource for providing social, economic and political justice.
The
quality of governance in a democracy depends largely on the capabilities
and vision of the people who occupy the institutions of governance.
Education empowers the people and equips their leaders with the capabilities
and capacities needed for good governance. It is you scholars and academicians
who are ultimately going to make the real difference to the
quality of governance. Education impacts a nation’s level of democracy and
legal education. It480 affects
the very essence of a modern democratic society that is, Rule of Law.
Law is the critical instrumentality, both500 for preservation of society and its evolution
to higher levels of existence. History tells us that whenever these principles
are threatened, the structure of the edifice is weakened.
Therefore, it is imperative that we dedicate ourselves to the
Rule of Law in letter and spirit. It is the spirit, not the form of law,
that keeps justice alive. Legal Education gives you a chance to be the leaders
of tomorrow, to play a significant role not only in the development of
policies in our country but also to play an important part in the
development of comity of nations. Legal600
education is a vital link in the creation of knowledge concepts as well as in
the application of such concepts in society. The need for trained law
personnel in academia, litigation, corporate practice, government and civil
society has increased significantly over the last few years and is
expected to rise exponentially in the years to come. The degrees
that are conferred on you today are neither merely a formal mark of
education nor the mere recognition of memorized and absorbed
ideas. They represent the awareness and wisdom that you have gained from your
scholarly endeavours. Good education secures a sense700 of equity, preserving individuality
with diversity. Knowledge with capabilities to make its proper and profitable
use for entire mankind makes720
it a potent tool of human development, particularly in this information
age. Legal education also addresses the mutual relationship between law and
society with its different actors, institutions, and processes. Law is
created and put into practice through societal processes. At the same time,
law effects and affects social change. Beyond this, law is further understood
to constitute social institutions, such as the polity, family, property,
corporation, crime, and the individual. The study of law and other specializations
in the800 social sciences are
thus closely interwoven. Social, cultural and political opportunities in
any culture are determined at least in part by legal rights and the ability to
realize them. There is a saying that scholars create peace in the world.840 I find this to be deeply true. I firmly
believe scholars need to rethink about their mission and their relationship to
society in every generation. The legitimate aim of education is to promote
the major values of a democratic society and to reduce the number of
moral mavericks who do not share democratic preferences. So, that is
what I want900 for all of you.
I want you all to stay true to the most real, most sincere, most authentic
parts of yourselves. I want you to ask those fundamental questions: Who
do you want to be? What inspires you? How do you want to give back? I
want you to take a deep breath and trust yourselves to plan your960 own course and create your mark on
the world.
One
thing I would like to tell you before you depart from the Indian Law Institute,
is that the road ahead is not going to be easy. Law is a great1000 profession but not the easy one. The
world would not always see you in those hoods and robes. I expect you all to
believe in your capabilities while facing the challenges of life. We need
the best and brightest of your generation to lead in Government and in
business. You will have to use the professional tools to shape the law
and tailor it to the needs of an evolving society, in a world unimaginable
when we sat where you1080 are
now sitting. I believe that an institution that has values and acts on them can
really change the world.1100 An
individual can also do the same. That can be you. That must be you. The
moral law within yourself must command you to make the highest possible
good in the world, the final object of all our conduct.
Let
the temples of learning such as this help unfold the Indian intellect to
greater heights of knowledge and let us work together to enable an individual
to realize his full potential so as to contribute the cause of nation building.
You should have the courage to decide for yourself what is right and
what is wrong and make firm commitment1200
to the good cause so as to convert your dreams into reality. You should never
stop learning.
