Once an Advocate, Always an Advocate! - Bhagirathi Mishra

 “I was born on 14 August 1939, to Late Raghunath Mishra and Late Savitri Devi in Patanda, a small village in Odisha. I did my schooling from A.N. High School, Narsinghpur, intermediate from Ravenshaw College and later pursued my graduation at Puri; I completed my law studies from M S Law College, Cuttack followed by Masters in Applied Economics from Utkal University.

I excelled in sports throughout my career; I had even represented my college in the Inter-University Sports Meet during my law studies in M S College . After completion of my Masters in 1964 from Utkal University,I took up law as my career unaware of the wonders it’d do to me, and joined the Baramba-Narsinghpur Bar Association under Cuttack District in 1966. I was elected as the Secretary of the Baramba-Narsinghpur Bar Association for fifteen consecutive years and President of 

the same for thirty years. I was fortunate enough to be elected as the Director of Land Development Bank in Athagarh for upliftment of farmers, the State Defence Counsel for fighting for the poor and underprivileged litigants, and as President of erstwhile Janata Dal in Baramba-Narsinghpur for fifteen years . 

I have argued more than sixty thousand cases in courts of Narsinghpur, Baramba , Athagarh and Cuttack in my entire career. This career has given me more than what I could have asked for. I had bought my first bike, ”Rajdoot” in 1969 and my first car, “Fiat” in 1975. In the year 2012, I had a major brain stroke which paralysed my right side partially. I could not speak. Neither could I draft a petition, couldn't even write nor was able to go to Court for a couple of months, which was bizzare for me. With each day passing by I could feel my self-confidence, high spirits, determination- all shattering from within. I had started to fumble and even couldn’t move my right hand at all. Seeing me all shattered and hopeless my family allowed me to go to the court, just so that I get some peace of mind, but unfortunately, in 2016 I felt unconscious in the court room while witnessing an ongoing argument , and ever since I was never allowed to go to court again . This is the most terrible feeling which always kills me from within, but I spend time with grandchildren, have long chit-chat sessions over video-call with my sons, daughter and daughter-in-laws. I have morning and evening 'chaa' with my wife.

 

Life has to go on, so I keep reading the law books every now and then,discuss cases with my two sons who are also lawyers . Now I have to depend on my wife’s pension and my sons for money, which I do not like at all. If ever given a chance again I will not step back from going to court and arguing cases, drafting appeals and petitions. I still go to sleep thinking of my paralysis to vanish the next morning, I wake up so that I could go back to my passion. I have been felicitated many a times for contributing 50 years of my life to the field of law. Law was never a profession for me it was “food for my soul” to be precise, and it is still the same.

I'd just say to everyone who stumbles upon reading this- that, make the most of your life while you still can. Life is precious and so are you!" - Bhagirathi Mishra.