Never say never! – Priyanka Jain

Author Priyanka

Why am I studying Law? No, it is not down to any family expectation to study medicine, engineering or law at higher studies (as in some Asian families). Admittedly, ‘Law?’ was the reaction that people would get from me when they asked if that was an option for me to study at university. It was the one subject I ‘knew’ I was never going to study. Ever. Why?

After my aunt had studied law in university, the most common reaction, in any discussion which involved my applications, from my grandparents would consist of, ‘don’t do law, it’s strenuous, laborious and tiring.’ It was a subject I wasn’t encouraged to do as a young child, therefore, I never took it to be an option.

My interests fluctuated from engineering, to art, to journalism during the course of the past four years. Why then did I settle for law, a subject I supposedly ‘knew’ I was never going to read? A subject, the thought of which scared me? A subject which now I am going to spend the next three years of my life reading?

I guess my interest in law sparked from my regular holidays to New Delhi where in the space of a twenty minute journey, the visible human landscape would change drastically; from passing luxurious mansions with Bentleys parked in wide, green and clean avenues into the contrasting world of polluted slums. This raised a number of questions within my mind - As we know the Indian economy is exponentially expanding each year, with growth rates reaching their pinnacle and progress is evident. However, does this progress which translates into obvious consumerism, create a desire within under-privileged individuals? A desire to change their positions, through the world of crime and venality; the contra montage of the law, the law I now wish to represent?