TITLE OF PROJECT

Roses in December
An autobiography by M.C. Chagla

English project

Submitted to Submitted by
Dr. navleen multani Jobanpreet Singh
Assistant prof. of english Roll No. – 17183
3rd Semester
INDEX

1. INTRODUCTION.
2. ASSSESMENT.
3. CONCLUSION.
INTRODUCTION:-

Mohammed Ali Currim Chagla was born in Bombay on 30th September 1900. He was mainly
known as M.C. Chagla. He belonged to Shia Muslim merchant family. He wrote his
autobiography named ‘ROSES IN DECEMBER’ by suggestion of his younger son Iqbal Chagla.
he lived very lonely childhood because his mother were died in 1905 when he was only 5 year
old. he served his all kind of services to India like he served as advocate, puisne judge, chief
justice, ad hoc judge of international court, acting governor, education minister and diplomatic
agent. He belonged to middle class family. He was very hard working child at his childhood. He
was also studied in oxford university. He wrote autobiography by influence of the autobiography
of Halden. His wife name is Mehrunissa Dharsi Jivraj. His wife’s family background were same
as his family background was. They were blessed with four child, two boys and two girls. His
boys are Jahangir and Iqbal and his girls are Husnara and Nuru. he met with many big
personalities in his life. He met with Mohammad ali Jinnah and Jamshedji kanga when he was
serving at the bar. Jinnah who become the founder of Pakistan. He was serving seven year in the
chamber of Jinnah because he was influenced by nationalism of Jinnah and intelligence of
Jinnah. He was serving 11 year as chief justice of Bombay high court. When he was chief justice
he was serving with his full capacity to do work. he also give a reason why he write a
autobiography? The answer of this question is because he want to tell his life experience with
others; how he take over from the pitfalls of life and what kind of problems he faced in his life.

M.C. Chagla was first Indian judge who served as chief justice of Bombay high court. He served
as chief justice from 1948 to 1958. He was against the communist two nation theory of Jinnah.
Before the partition of India he was very influenced by Jinnah and he was disciple of Jinnah. He
Serve six years in the chamber of Jinnah when he was suffering from a same situation of
starvation. He did his schooling in Dadar at 3rd standard and after he took admission in ST.
Xavier School. St Xavier was a Jesuits school. Some people had illusion that in this school
Jesuits were giving superiority on the other religion that was totally wrong describes by Chagla.
He also know about the oxford university with the help of St Xavier school. He was very bright
child in school. He practiced 19 years in bar from 1922 to 1941. He was also served as acting
governor of Bombay. Before joining the post of governor he thought that governor has only a
duty to attend VIP’s and give permission for some works.
When he served as chief justice of Bombay high court he deal very politely with other judges.
He never tempered on someone. He did his work in very laborious way. He never close the court
whether he was ill or not. Even his wife ask him not go to court because of his sickness but he
don’t believe to take excuse of sickness. He was also believed that advocates must do their best
for their client that is first duty of advocates. After getting retirement he has move from chief
justice government house to another house but he was confused what to do with the collection of
books which he collect for long Spain of time. Then he discusses his problem with new governor
of Bombay then the governor was Sri Parkasa. Sri Prakasa told him that keep all those books in
Raj Bhavan the official house of governor then they shift all the stock of his books to Raj
Bhavan. After taking retirement he has move Hague as joining as ad hoc judge of international
court. He and his wife went to Hague and live there for some time. He describe the environment
of international court; he said there are 15 permanent judges and other are ad hoc judges but ad
hoc judges also give preference as same like permanent judges. He talks about their colleagues of
international court. His wife had no work there and also not had any companion. She found a
companion one of his colleagues wife. She usually go outside for shopping with his colleagues
wife. That colleague were also representing India as a lawyer. On day he resign from the post of
judge of international court and came back to India, then Nehru and president of international
court assign him back because he was doing very well as judge of international court then he
again joins the post of ad hoc judge of international court.

He served India his all kinds of services. How he cover a path from professor to chief justice and
diplomatic agent of India. He gives all credit to his wife he said because of his wife he was able
achieve all the jobs he has served for India. He was also a great nationalist. In beginning he was
a disciple of Jinnah but when Jinnah change his theory from nationalism to communalism he
don’t even talk to Jinnah. He felt very lonely when his wife was died. His wife was died in 1961.
He served 19 years after his wife’s death. He was also died in 1981 but teach a lesson to all
Indian how to take over from the pitfalls of life.
ASSESMENT:-

At the beginning of his career he started from professor and goes to chief justice, and achieve
many more higher posts. His life teach the people how he take over the pitfalls of his life with
full of courage. When he was practicing with Jinnah he said that at that time his economic
condition was not good and he never borrow money from Jinnah and he describe Jinnah as
unemotional person Jinnah was know about the financial condition of Chagla by knowing about
all the facts Jinnah did not give any kind of financial help to Chagla. Jinnah usually drop Chagla
from the bar to the gymkhana club. But Chagla wants to learn from Jinnah that’s why he tolerate
all these things. This incident of Chagla taught the people that for achieve something you have to
sacrifice something. And he starts his career from the very low level. As he starts his career as a
professor and goes to higher posts. This thing also taught us that success can never achieve by
the shortcut you have to pay something for gaining success. His life in staring was not so good
because he lost his mother at very young age. His childhood was filled with full of grief. He felt
very lonely. He did his schooling from Dadar at 3rd standard and after he took admission in St.
Xavier School. In his school life he was taking part in every activity like debate and also sports.
He Know about the oxford university because of his school. During the study at oxford he met
with many big personalities like Subhas Chandra Bose, Sarojini naidu and many more. He
Choose a subject of history but he like politics more than history. He did not attend lecture but he
like to do reading.

One day he got a chance to speak on stage in front of president of university. For that speaking
there must be a tail suit. He borrows a tail suit of his friend but don’t give up the chance to speak
on stage. This kind of determination help the children to achieve any kind of success. The
election were held at oxford for electing the president and library member. He was also took a
part of library election and became a member of library. He was also give special seat after
passing out from the university this was the criteria of university for library member. One day he
ask to Sarojini Naidu to speak on some topic. Topic was decided by him, and he know the
capability of Naidu of Speaking. He considered Naidu as one of the greatest speaker. Before
moving to oxford his family had some amount of money but after came back to India his family
had no such amount of money. Then he joins the bar for practicing lawyer. In his early law life
he did not earn much.
At the bar initially he met with Bhulabhai Desai who was the junior lawyer. Bhulabhai Desai
usually makes notes of the facts of cases. One senior lawyer suggest him try to believe on your
memory after that day he was not making the notes of the facts of cases. He remember
everything about the case he had a great power of memory. Nowadays there is very rare
advocates who remember the facts of cases generally they just do paper reading in front of the
judges. Which is not good for the lawyer. Lawyer must be intelligent and know how to tackle
with any kind of problem arise in proceeding of case. M.C. Chagla met with Sir Jamshedji kanga
who was an advocate general at that time. One of the greatest personalities of the bar was
Inverarity. Inverarity was like to play the bridge game. Sir Jamshedji kanga and author went to
Byculla club where Inverarity were live. When they went to Byculla club Inverarirty was playing
bridge game and refused to met with them. After some time he agree to met with them but said
that if they want to met him then they have to come one by one. Committee were agreed to met
in the same Situation and then Chagla move towards the front gate of club but stopped by kanga
and said that there were two gates and Indians are allowed to enter through back gate of club.
Chagla was very angry and totally criticize the act of discrimination. He don’t want to meet that
person who directly encourage the discrimination whether he was anyone from the big
\personality.

The first case which was present by Chagla in the court was the trunk murder case. In this case
Mohanlal Setalvad was also the counsel of another accused. Setalvad accused was given the
sentence of death by the session court of Justice Kania. he became the secretariat of court and
left the secretariat post when he join the bench as puisne judge of high court of Bombay. He was
the first Indian who became the chief justice of Bombay high court after independence. He talks
about the duties of advocates he suggest that advocates has duty to give his best for their client
and second thing for advocates to not convert the judge to his side of view but to see the judge
view whether he was appreciate his point or not. He said that:

“Success would come to every young man who has faith in himself’

“The key to success is the art of distinguish the relevant from the irrelevant, it is a key that can
open any door”
Chagla was also interested in politics. He usually read the books related to politics and law. in
politics he define why Jinnah changed his mind from nationalism to communalism. The answer
of this question is difference between the thoughts of Gandhi and Jinnah. Jinnah did not accept
the policies of Gandhi for example, non-cooperation movement. in this movement Indians have
to boycott all the western things all institutions and rules of Britishers and also clothes of
Britishers and have to wear simple khadi clothes. Jinnah did not want to wear simple khadi
clothes rather than western suit. And the popularity of Jinnah was very low after Gandhi’s non
cooperation movement. There were also difference in thoughts of Gandhi and Jinnah, Gandhi
was believed in religion and abstract moral values but Jinnah was believed in practical politics
only. There were also difference between thoughts of Jinnah and Nehru, Nehru thought that
Jinnah was illiterate and has no conscious mind and Jinnah don’t like Nehru because he was not
practical mind. These are the reasons why Jinnah convert his mind from nationalism to
communalism.

Britishers used their policy of separate electorate, with the establishment of separate electorates
there is abolishment of unity between the Indians. They were not loyal to their country but loyal
to their particular religion, region and caste. Chagla share a incident when he went to US as an
ambassador one of the foreigner asked him a question that he is a Hindu or muslim from this
question he getting very angry and immediately replied that question in anger that why you
asking all Indians about their religion you just mind your work. Chagla also said that he don’t
ask from any American that he is Christian, Jew or catholic so why you ask from all Indians
about their religion. Britishers divide the India on the bases of religion. With this incident it is
proved that Indian were not proud to be Indian but they were feel proud regard their region or
religion. Jinnah were not married with the Islamic girl but with Parsi girl,. Jinnah’s wife name is
Ruttie and she was a daughter of sir Dinshaw. Jinnah gave full luxurious life to his wife. As
Jinnah married with non muslim girl so with this act of Jinnah he was considered as not very
determinate about his religion. Jinnah’s wife accept the Islam after marriage with Jinnah.
He became chief justice of Bombay high court at 15 august 1947. He was the first Indian to be
chief justice of Bombay high court. He served 11 years as chief justice. His tenure was starts
from 1947 to 1958. While serving as a chief justice of high court; many times there were a clash
between him and Morarji Desai the then chief minister of Bombay. Many a times he opened a
court when there is national holiday that’s why there is clash between him and Morarji Desai.
Chagla do not believe to shut the court on the birth date on some big personality, he thought that
this is not the way to pay respect for someone. The perfect way to pay respect for someone’s
birth anniversary is to do a more work than earlier, he describe the way to pay respect someone.
This act Chagla implicate that he was giving more preference to work rather than the birth
anniversary of big personality.

In this there is arising a question that why there was clash between government and Chagla?
There are many answers for this question. Firstly when he has to choose a judge for vacancy of
high court then there was many who were on the recommendation of government but not so
intelligent, he filled the vacancies with his own discretion and only gives a post of judge of high
court to intelligent judges and experienced judges. Nowadays there is no such kind of practice. In
theoretically there is rule to appoint judges on the bases of their knowledge and experience but in
practical judges has appointed by suggestion of government or senior judicial officers. The act of
Chagla give us lesson to be aware while happening the official things. Judges should be aware of
the fact that whether they were appointed on the bases of experience or suggestion. And chief
justice has a major duty to appoint only those judges who are capable of becoming judge. He
also define the duties of chief justice first and major duty is to appoint the judges and second is
to allocate the cases among the judges and third is to follow the right things, to follow the
constitutional provisions. Judges must follow what is written in the constitution. Judges also has
a duty to interpret the law. judge should be given a proper and precise Judgement which is able
to understand by everyone. Judge should be good listener. When judge was hearing a argument
by any counsel he has to hear both the counsel properly and then give decision on them. All
things he has mentioned that judges should like that or this. But there are few judges who accept
the system of Chagla and doing proper work. The acts do done by Chagla and suggestion given
by Chagla proved that he was very laborious person who give preference to work rather than any
other work. He gives many important Judgements like preventive detention and many more like
that.
He was also serving as ad hoc judge of international court at Hague. He was getting retirement
from the post of chief justice. When he was in his last year of chief justice, Nehru sent the
invitation to Chagla to represent India in international court of justice as ad hoc judge. He then
decided to move Hague and agree to join as ad hoc judge of international court. Chagla and his
wife went to Hague. At Hague he said his wife had no work to do because he was busy at the
international court and had less time to spend with his wife. His wife was not convenient with the
language of people of Hague. He describes the drawback or weakness of international court. He
said that the jurisdiction of international court are voluntary not compulsory for every state.
International court has no right to interfere in the personal matters of state. Chagla define the
voluntary jurisdiction is the biggest drawback of international court this statement of Chagla
implied that Chagla wants there must be a compulsory jurisdiction of international court of
justice for all the states. One more drawback he discuss in his book that there is not any written
law which the judges have to follow. There are only conventions according to which judges has
to take decision. There is not any fixed law this statement of Chagla implies that there must be a
fixed law judges should take decision with their discretion. He also served as education minister
diplomatic agent and an ambassador of India. His life teaches us to learn how person achieving
success with the help of hard work and determination. His life was the biggest example of
achieving success with proper hard work and determination. He also Share some facts about his
personal life.

He said that he was very religious at the beginning but became atheist after some time of
attaining the age of majority. He never thing that he became atheist someday but he said it was
very difficult for him to accept anything without any proper reason behind it. And he also talks
about how he became emotionless. He loved his wife but after the death of his wife he said that
he was suffering from loneliness and usually missed her wife. Even after the death of his wife he
got many jobs and he did all those with proper responsibility. He taught the people how to
overcome from the emotional sufferings and adopt major responsibilities while suffering from
the emotional distractions. He was great husband because he give very good life to his wife and
don’t interrogate her on any act. With this people should learn not to blame their wife for any
little acts. Wife is the one and only closest companion of person. Person should treat his wife
very politely and live all time together.
CONCLUSION:-

The book has covered all the incidents related to M.C. Chagla’s life. This book taught us many
things like how to overcome from the pitfalls of life and how to tackle the problems related to
career. This book taught us a lesson of up’s and down’s, this is the criteria of life you just
determine what you want to do in your life. He give a suggestion judges must be intelligent and
experienced. He as a lawyer also talks about the duties of advocates. He met with many big
personalities and learn from them very important things. He worked 6 year in the chamber of
Jinnah at that time his financial condition was not good but he wants to learn from Jinnah that’s
why he tolerate all those things and achieve success in his life because of his patience. He starts
his life as a simple professor but attain very big posts like chief justice and judge at international
court of justice. His life taught us we don’t expect success from the very beginning life of our
career we have to wait for getting success in our life. The most important thing is patience he had
a lot of patience because of his patience he attain that much higher posts. There is old saying that
for attaining something we have to sacrifice something. He also defines that why he was
emotionless because he know the criteria of life if every judge or doctor became very emotional
then how they solve the problems and how they tackle with patients respectively. His wife death
gave him very mourn situation. His life taught us to become laborious and hard worker. He never
took excuse of sickness while he was serving as chief justice of Bombay high court.

His life taught us the lesson of hard working and determinate for our work. He define that he felt
very lonely after the death of his wife but he had too much work, because of that work his mind
was not thing about his loneliness. With the help of this act he implied that we have a key to
convert our mind from loneliness that key is work. His life was full of courage and taught us
lesson never give up just go ahead , if you are working hard then definitely you will get success.
He also advice for politician that how they become good politician. he wrote autobiography for
the students or individuals who are suffering from same kind of problems from which he was
suffered. The main purpose is to give inspiration to the people for take over the pitfalls of life.
With the help of this book people understand up’s and down’s are the criteria of life. Every
person who are living in this world are suffering from one kind of problems. He was died in
1981 but teach us very big lesson of life that is people do not feel low, they just believe in their
self and achieve but they want.