Professional Advice Is the Fruit of Years of Sacrifice

 

Professional Advice Is the Fruit of Years of Sacrifice

“A lawyer does not get even a single page of a book for free; then how can he be expected to give legal advice for free?”

Behind every legal opinion lies a long journey of education, disciplined study, practical experience and professional responsibility. A lawyer must continuously purchase books, study statutes, follow judicial precedents, attend court proceedings, maintain an office and devote countless hours to research. Even a seemingly simple legal question may require careful examination of facts, applicable laws and recent judgments before responsible advice can be given.

Legal advice is not merely a collection of spoken words. It is the product of years of learning, observation, interpretation and experience. A few minutes of consultation may contain the accumulated wisdom of decades of professional practice. Moreover, incorrect or casual advice may seriously affect a person’s liberty, property, family, business or reputation. Therefore, a conscientious lawyer must apply both knowledge and judgment before expressing an opinion.

People willingly pay doctors for medical consultation, architects for designs, accountants for financial advice and engineers for technical expertise. In the same manner, the professional knowledge and time of an advocate deserve equal recognition and respect. Seeking free legal advice while expecting complete accuracy and responsibility undervalues the labour, sacrifice and accountability involved in the legal profession.

An advocate may certainly render free legal assistance to the poor, distressed and genuinely helpless as an act of humanity and professional duty. However, voluntary legal aid should never be treated as a general entitlement or used to diminish the value of an advocate’s services. Charity is a matter of conscience; professional service is a matter of rightful remuneration.

Respecting a lawyer’s professional fee means respecting the years spent acquiring knowledge, the time devoted to studying the matter and the responsibility undertaken while advising the client. Books are not free, education is not free, office expenses are not free, and a lawyer’s time and expertise cannot always be expected to be free.

Value legal advice, because behind every responsible opinion stands a lifetime of learning, labour and professional accountability.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

Ganesh Chaturthi 2026

 

Ganesh Chaturthi - 14 September 2026 - Monday

 

Happy Birthday to Advocate Tirthankar Roy

 

Happy Birthday to Advocate Tirthankar Roy

Heartiest birthday wishes to Sri Tirthankar Roy, learned Advocate, on the auspicious occasion of his birthday on 1st September.

Sri Roy is a knowledgeable, sincere and accomplished legal professional who ordinarily practises before the Alipore Judges’ Court and Alipore Police Court, particularly on the criminal side. Publicly accessible legal records also reflect his appearances in criminal appeals, bail applications and other proceedings before the Alipore courts. His public Facebook profile identifies him professionally as an advocate. 

The first day of September appears symbolically appropriate for a person who occupies a distinguished position through professional knowledge, simplicity and humane conduct. In numerology, the month of September represents the number nine, often associated with completeness, wisdom and generosity. Thus, his birthday on the first day of the ninth month beautifully reflects a professional journey that strives for excellence while remaining complete in kindness and humanity.

What makes Sri Roy especially admirable is not merely his command of law, but his conduct towards others. He is neither egoistic nor affected by professional pride. Behind his firm and well-versed professional personality lies a genuinely compassionate heart. His warmth extends to colleagues, court staff and, particularly, junior advocates, whom he treats with encouragement, dignity and affection. His generosity cannot adequately be expressed in a few words—the more one speaks about it, the more one feels that much still remains unsaid.

His devotion and spirit of fellowship are equally reflected in the Ganapati Puja at Alipore Police Court, which he initiated twelve years ago. The present celebration marks the thirteenth consecutive year of that cherished tradition. What began through his initiative has grown into an enduring occasion of faith, unity and fraternity among members of the legal community.

On this memorable day, I pray that Almighty God and Lord Ganapati bless him with sound health, lasting happiness, professional distinction and many more years of meaningful service to the legal fraternity and society. May he continue to inspire others through his knowledge, humility, generosity and heartfelt kindness.

Happy Birthday, Tirthankar Roy. May your journey always remain illuminated by justice, wisdom and humanity.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

Happy Birthday, Advocate Tirthankar Roy

 

Happy Birthday, Advocate Tirthankar Roy

Heartiest birthday wishes to Sri Tirthankar Roy, learned Advocate, on 1st September. A well-versed criminal lawyer practising at the Alipore Judges’ and Police Courts, he is admired for his professional knowledge, humility and heartfelt kindness—especially towards junior advocates. He initiated Ganapati Puja at the Alipore Police Court twelve years ago, and this year marks its thirteenth consecutive celebration. The more one speaks of his generosity, the less it seems. May Lord Ganapati bless him with good health, happiness and continued professional success.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः

 

“नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः”

The profound message of the Mundaka Upanishad—“The Self is not attained by the weak”—refers not merely to physical strength but to mental courage, moral firmness and spiritual discipline. Self-realisation demands the strength to overcome fear, control desire, face adversity and remain committed to truth. True power does not lie in dominating others; it is found in conquering one’s own anger, ego and weakness. Therefore, one must cultivate courage, patience and perseverance, because the highest truth is attained only by those who refuse to surrender before life’s difficulties.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta

The Self Is Not Attained by the Weak

 

“नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः” — The Self Is Not Attained by the Weak

The profound declaration of the Mundaka Upanishad—“नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः”—means that the highest knowledge of the Self cannot be attained by one who lacks strength. Here, “strength” does not refer merely to physical power. It signifies inner courage, mental discipline, moral firmness, spiritual determination and the ability to remain steady during adversity.

True self-realisation demands continuous effort. A person who is easily defeated by fear, temptation, disappointment or social pressure may find it difficult to discover the divine power residing within. The journey towards truth is seldom comfortable. It requires one to confront personal weaknesses, control restless desires, overcome attachment and continue walking even when the destination appears distant.

Life repeatedly tests our patience and conviction. Difficulties are not always punishments; many times, they are opportunities through which our character is refined. Just as gold is purified by fire, the human personality becomes stronger through struggle. Every challenge teaches us something about our hidden capacity, and every sincere effort brings us closer to wisdom.

The weakness condemned by the Upanishad is primarily an inner surrender—the belief that we are incapable, helpless or destined to fail. Such thoughts gradually imprison the mind. Spiritual wisdom therefore calls upon us to rise above fear and recognise the strength already present within our consciousness. Courage begins when we refuse to be governed by doubt.

This teaching is equally relevant to personal, professional and public life. Justice cannot be defended by those who fear inconvenience; truth cannot be protected by those who compromise at the first sign of opposition; and society cannot progress when responsible persons remain silent before injustice. Strength, however, must always be guided by wisdom and compassion. Power without morality becomes oppression, whereas strength rooted in righteousness becomes a means of service.

The Upanishadic message does not glorify aggression, arrogance or domination. A truly strong person need not humiliate others or loudly display superiority. Real strength appears through self-control, patience, humility and the courage to stand alone for what is right. One who governs his own anger, greed and ego possesses a far greater power than one who merely controls others.

Therefore, we must develop strength at every level—physical vitality, intellectual clarity, emotional stability, moral courage and spiritual faith. We may fall, but we must rise again; we may face rejection, but we must not abandon truth; we may encounter darkness, but we must continue searching for light. The eternal Self is realised by those who persevere with discipline, sincerity and unwavering determination.

The message of “नायमात्मा बलहीनेन लभ्यः” is ultimately a call to awaken. It reminds every human being: do not underestimate the divine potential within you. Remove fear, cultivate courage, strengthen your character and proceed towards truth with confidence. The path may be demanding, but the light of self-knowledge belongs to those who possess the strength to pursue it.

— Ashok Kumar Singh
Advocate, High Court at Calcutta