My First Brief continues....

About this time I got my first introduction to my wife as she was now residing at Dharamsala with my father. Father arranged further training for me in his office. After three or four months, he set up a separate office for me in a house opposite the Dharamsala Hospital, which he had already built in anticipation of my becoming a lawyer. I got a few independent briefs but mostly I did my father’s work. I attended cases where he could not appear or was otherwise busy. I was always present in court when he argued a case or appeared in interesting cases. I inspected records of the cases for him, and soon became an expert in this, especially in examining revenue records. Most of my time was spent in the record room, with the result that I got acquainted with old revenue records of the Kangra District from 1865 to 1912. Settlement reports and various editions of Gazetteers of Kangra, I read with avid interest. Father made me read all the Privy Council decisions and study all cases turning on customary law.

In October 1913 my first son, Daya Krishan- now Justice Daya Krishan of the Punjab High Court—was born. We celebrated the Diwali that followed this happy event in a grand style.

After Diwali, Mr. Strickland, successor to Mr. Ross, started on his fishing trip on the Beas from Jaisinghpur to Rae. On the way he heard cases whenever he made a halt. Father found that he would have to appear before him all along the route at Bhawarna, Ranital, Lambagaon, Jaisinghpur, Tira Sujanpur, Nadaun, Hamirpur, Dehra Gopipur, and various other places. He handed over all these briefs to me as he didn’t like the tour. I covered this journey on horseback accompanied by my Munshi Daryodhan and a servant. This trip proved most interesting and gave me an opportunity to visit the whole of the Kangra District. Fees for going on tours were substantial in that District and I made good money.

to be continued...