Libraries Of Leaders: What Legal Eagles Read

Years of service in a senior counsel’s chamber, putting in unthinkable hours of drudgery, and painstakingly establishing a practice has been the usual route to success in the legal profession where tradition is venerated.

On this week’s edition of Libraries Of Leaders we took a peek into the libraries of three young and successful lawyers who have established formidable reputations in a relatively short time. Here is what Karuna Nundy, Apar Gupta and Somasekhar Sundaresan read and recommend.

1. Karuna Nundy

Cambridge-educated Karuna Nundy worked at international tribunals and the United Nations before she returned home to establish her litigation practice at the Supreme Court of India. She is best known for her work in human rights law and has been the face of the battle for justice for victims of the 1984 Bhopal gas tragedy. She is an equally successful corporate lawyer and a consultant to many large corporations such as Airbus and Dabur. She shared some of her favourite books with BloombergQuint.

1. Bhimayana: Experiences of Untouchability by Subhash Vyam and Durgabai Vyam

The beautifully illustrated graphic novel tells the story of India’s caste system and how little has changed in rural India despite legislation meant to address the problem. It also dwells on the humiliation and discrimination faced by a brilliant individual – BR Ambedkar – solely because he was a dalit.

2. The Annihilation of Caste by BR Ambedkar

The book, written in 1936, is a scholarly critique of the Hindu scriptures which Ambedkar holds responsible for an unequal society. Mahatma Gandhi was not amused by the work and the public spat that ensued between them was never really resolved.

3. When Things Fall Apart by Pema Chodron

Pema Chodron is a Buddhist nun and one of the most influential voices in contemporary spirituality. The book addresses important themes like productivity, how to work through chaotic situations and succeed even when things are falling apart.

2. Apar Gupta

Apar Gupta was all of 24 when he started writing his book on India’s Information Technology Act. The book, Commentary on Information Technology Act, is now considered a ready reckoner on the Act. Gupta is a media law specialist, and according to Forbes magazine, is in the business of protecting internet freedom for the long haul. Here are some of his favourite books.

1. Trial by Fire by Neelam and Shekhar Krishnamoorthy

The book tells the story of the battle for justice undertaken by the parents of two victims of the Upahaar Cinema tragedy, in which 59 people lost their lives when a fire broke out at the theatre in 1997. The book appealed to Gupta as it gave him a different perspective on the challenges faced by a litigant.

2. My Own Words by Ruth Bader Ginsburg

A witty and engaging read, the book was Ginsburg’s first after she became a U.S. Supreme Court Justice in 1993. It offers deep insights into the workings of the Supreme Court and dwells on the challenges of being a Jewish woman, among other things.

3. Portnoy’s Complaint by Philip Roth

The book tells the story of a young Jewish bachelor’s confession to his psychoanalyst about his insatiable and sometimes perverse sexual appetite which is at odds with his deep sense of morality and altruistic impulses. It is funny, bold, and unapologetically explicit.

3. Somasekhar Sundaresan

An avid trekker and a reputed expert on securities law, Sundaresan briefly worked as a journalist with the Times of India whilst still in law school. Later, he became a senior partner at one of the country’s biggest law firm, J Sagar and Associates, before joining its executive committee. He quit the firm earlier this year to establish an independent practice.

1. Sapiens: A Brief History of Humankind by Yuval Noah Harari

An in-depth look at the evolution of man and how homo sapiens succeeded in the battle for dominance against six other human species. The book dwells on how we came together, conceptualised god, created laws, built cities, and enacted and enforced laws. The book’s central theme – can we free our behaviour and actions from the influence of our heritage and ancestry, and if yes, how?

2. Being Mortal by Atul Gawande

The author, who is also a practicing surgeon, looks at the challenges that his profession faces, with its emphasis on prolonging life. It calls for a change in the philosophy of healthcare – ensuring well-being rather than just health and survival. He also addresses the difficult question of how medicine may have a role to play in the process of ending life.

3. The Freethinker's Prayer Book by Khushwant Singh

The book is a collection of the author’s favourite passages from the seminal texts of the major religions of the world, both in verse and poems. Sundaresan said that the book touched him every time he read it, reminding him of the universality of wisdom, love, and compassion across all faiths.