My First Brief continues....

He was all in all in Dharamsala civic affairs. His presence in the Bar room made it very lively; for he was full of humour and wit.

Moti Lal belonged to the first batch of Kangra young men who went to England some time before 1900 for the Bar. This batch consisted of Moti Lal, Dewan Bishan Dass and Dewan Roda Mal. They belonged to very orthodox families who thought they would get polluted by the touch of a foreigner. It is said that on his return Moti Lal was asked by his father as to who cooked his food, cleaned the utensils and fetched water. Prompt came the reply that Roda Mal cleaned the utensils, Bishan Dass cooked food and Moti Lal fetched the water! When this batch returned home, all of them had to go through a prayaschit, (purification ceremony) By a long series of feasts, feeding of Brahmans and purification ceremonies they were readmitted to the caste.

Another leading lawyer was Mr. Har Dayal, a young barrister who had taken his apprenticeship in Jullundur under Raizada Bhagat Ram, the leader of the Criminal Bar in the Punjab. Har Dayal lived in great style; his meals were prepared in English style. He lived like an Englishman. His hobby was bridge and tennis. Another leading lawyer was Lala Hanmant Das. He was the leader of the Arya Samaj movement in the district. He was a man of simple, quiet habits, and full of enthusiasm for the cause of the Arya Samaj. He was a true missionary of the Vedic Church.

Sunder Das Pasricha was the Public Prosecutor in those days and had considerable independent practice besides. As a public prosecutor he was a terror. He would have liked to see everyone of the accused sent to the gallows. He was a social and loveable person from an Arora family of Gujaranwala District. Rai Sahib Sham Lal Kaistha, one of the first M.A.s of the district, had also considerable practice. His lunches and dinners were famous. He was also fond of riding.

to be continued....