Practising Law at Gurdaspur continues...


Dewan Sant Ram was the leader of the Criminal Bar, a thorough gentleman. He was very affectionate and kind to me. He was the host of my father at Gurdaspur and acted also as his standing lawyer in the land litigation. His daughter married my son Daya Krishan later on. His son Jagmohan lived with me during his college days at Lahore. Chaudhri Dewan Chand Saini was another lawyer, practising on the criminal side in those days. Later on he became Rai Sahib and a leader of the Criminal Bar, but unfortunately died of cancer at a comparatively young age. There was a lovable old Muslim lawyer, Sheikh Nabi Bux, who knew only Urdu.

My group of lawyer friends consisted of members of the younger generation excepting Lala Dhani Ram who practised in the Munsifs’ courts and did not like to appear elsewhere. He was tennis secretary of the club, a good tennis player and very sociable. Others of my group were Dewan Chand Bhandari, now dead, son of my father’s friend, Lala Toddar Mal Bhandari, and leading advocate of Amritsar and scion of the great Bhandari family of Batala; Balwant Singh Bhandari, it very nice, affectionate young Barrister, who died of heart attack at a very young age; Chaudhri Niranjan Das Datt, who now lives in U.P. and Lala Peshori Mal, a very nice and humorous individual hailing from Gharota. Sheikh Mohammad was another good Muslim lawyer of a sweet temperament. Pandit Bashamber Nath later became Governor of Gurukul Kangri. I have seldom come across a more even tempered and affectionate person than Pandit Bashamber Nath. He was a man of pure character, truthful and upright. He had not much of a practice. Pandit Bashamber Nath continued to be my friend throughout his life.

We had as civil surgeon Rai Sahib Ram Chand, a man of sterling character, and a good physician. He was in our social group. Dr. Vishwa Nath, who became a famous Lahore physician was then assistant surgeon at Gurdaspur.

to be continued....

( This account is maintained by Har Anand Publication)