Constitution is the DNA of our nation; lawyers and judges have infused life into it: KK Venugopal

Constitution is the DNA of our nation and lawyers and judges have infused life into it through judgments like AK Gopalan and Kesavananda Bharati, Senior Advocate and former Attorney General KK Venugopal said on Wednesday..He highlighted the role played by lawyers and judges in the independence movement and in shaping the nation.“Various independence movements were all shaped, propelled and built by lawyers. Lawyers post independence have also contributed immensely. Constitution is the DNA of our nation. From AK Gopalan’s case to Kesavananda Bharti case, lawyers infused life into the Constitution,” he said..He was speaking at the launch of the book "Lawyers in the Freedom Struggle and in Independent India” authored by Dr. Lalit Bhasin, the president of the Society of Indian Law Firms (SILF).The event held at Venugopal's residence was also attended by current Attorney General R Venkataramani. .In his address, Venugopal reflected on the transformative role played by lawyers in India’s history. “A lawyer is aptly called a man for all season. Dr. Bhasin’s role show cases the role played by lawyers from pre-independence to this day and age,” he said.The former Attorney General also highlighted the role played by lawyers in representing the downtrodden in the courts in public interest litigation matters. “Lawyers have been the voice of those who would not have been heard if not for them,” he stated. The veteran lawyer, who took brief breaks during his speech, said on a lighter note, “At 93, I am not able to shout like I used do in courts.”.Attorney General R Venkataramani acknowledged the monumental contributions of lawyers during the freedom struggle and in building a constitutional democracy.Sharing his experience from the Article 370 case, the Attorney General reflected on the inspiring history of India’s constitutional development. “I thought I must know more about the history of how the idea of the Constitution was born in our country. It was shaped by people from all walks of life—remote villages, middle classes, upper middle classes, teachers, and Zamindars. What brought them together was the idea of freedom,” he said..Venkataramani emphasised that the idea of freedom, which forms the bedrock of India's consciousness, is a legacy left by those who toiled relentlessly. “Thanks to them, we now have a wonderful Constitution with its fibers so intact. It is difficult to imagine their motivation and relentless pursuit,” he said.The Attorney General also urged for deeper exploration of the lawyers’ contributions and called for an expanded and detailed publication. “The book may be slender but its appeal is immense. Anyone with the time and inclination to enlarge this work would make a great contribution,” he added..Dr. Bhasin emphasized the historical and contemporary significance of the legal profession. “This book is a timely reminder of the role lawyers played not only during the independence movement but also in shaping India post-independence,” he said.The book honours influential figures such as Mahatma Gandhi, Lala Lajpat Rai and Deshbandhu Chittaranjan Das for their dedication to the cause of Indian freedom, while also highlighting the contributions of post-independence legal educators and practitioners..Bhasin spoke about how colonisation led to the creation of an educated class to serve the interest of the coloniser, among whom lawyers emerged as key players in the fight for self-governance. “After learning the law, these individuals became conscious of the process by which we could achieve self-government. It is no coincidence that lawyers were at the forefront of the freedom struggle,” he noted..The book also reflects on the immense contributions of lawyers in independent India. “Lawyers have held various important posts and have played a significant role in strengthening democracy and the rule of law. This volume is dedicated to all lawyers and freedom fighters irrespective of whether their names figure in the book,” Bhasin remarked.