Chief Justice of India (CJI) BR Gavai turned emotional while addressing members of the Nagpur District Court Bar Association on Friday, as he reflected on his late father’s unfulfilled aspiration to become a lawyer — a dream that deeply influenced his own path in the legal profession.
Speaking to a gathering of legal professionals, CJI Gavai revealed that he had once aspired to become an architect, but his father’s wishes led him down a different path.
“I wanted to be an architect, but my father had different dreams,” Gavai said, his voice choked with emotion. “He wanted to be a lawyer but couldn’t because he was arrested for participating in the freedom movement.”
Gavai paid tribute to his parents
The 52nd Chief Justice of India gave rare personal insights into the roots of his judicial career, reflecting on the hardships and sacrifices made by his family. Gavai paid tribute to his parents, particularly highlighting the contributions of his mother and aunt who held the family together through financial difficulties.
“All responsibility fell on my mother and aunt,” he recalled, wiping away tears. “My father gave himself to the service of Ambedkar’s ideology. He always hoped I would do something meaningful in life.”
Lost my father in 2015: CJI
Gavai also recounted a moment of foresight from his father, who believed his son might someday rise to the top of the judiciary. “When my name was recommended for the post of a judge in the high court, my father told me, ‘If you remain a lawyer, you’ll only go after money. But if you become a judge, you’ll walk on the path laid down by Dr Ambedkar and do good for society.’”
Sadly, his father passed away in 2015 and could not witness his son rise to the highest judicial post in the country. “We lost him in 2015,” Gavai said. “But I am glad my mother is here to witness it.”
Justice Gavai’s emotional address resonated with the audience, offering a rare glimpse into the personal legacy and motivations behind the country’s top judge.
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