Lawyering. It’s a profession that still evokes a level of intrigue, despite a myriad of TV shows and movies that show how exhilarating it seems to be. When one meets a lawyer, they may come across a smart suit, eloquent speech and a sharp navigation of legal battles. Yet, beneath that surface, there may be a rich degree of thought and emotion. So, when a lawyer becomes an author, they’re going from crafting legal arguments to crafting words on paper. And that unlocks a whole new side of them: the dreamer, the storyteller, the observer. What are the inspirations, challenges and experiences that led them to pick up a pen and share their insights? How can this pen become a formidable tool for the legal profession?
Akila Agrawal, Head of Mergers & Acquisitions at Cyril Amarchand Mangaldas, became an author with her book “Marriages Not Made In Heaven”, a story which is said to revolve around a family, where the mother’s sole ambition in life is to get her 3 daughters happily married, preferably in rich households.
But, where did it come from?
According to Agrawal, “The process of observation was not by design. Being in South Delhi, I meet a lot of interesting women across age groups from very different backgrounds. So, a lot of what I have written about is what I’ve seen in everyday life. Given the topic, there was not a lot of specific research involved as such. The humour element was, definitely, by design. I wanted to write something simple that was, at the same time, serious and I, also, wanted to make sure that it reaches more people without the book being typecast as a heavy or serious book. I tried to mix it up with humour and I believe that in today’s day and age, what we really lack is a sense of humour. I wish more people could laugh at themselves and not take themselves so seriously. I, also, believe that there is a way to communicate serious matters in a simple fashion with a good sense of humour. I’ve attempted that and that was by design”.
And what could be said of the characters of the book and their psyche?
Agrawal remarks, “So, the original thought process was based on ‘Pride & Prejudice’ with a very ambitious mother trying to get her daughters married to the most suitable men. I, kind of, typecast the 3 sisters. There’s a smart one, a nice one and a pretty one. But, after the first few chapters, they, kind of, got a life of their own, making them more grey… I should confess that I tried to make them all unique, in the sense that, though they were conditioned by their upbringing, I tried to make them more independent and fierce”.
“The topic was chosen more out of convenience, because of time constraints. I chose a topic which did not require much research which I could write about without much effort. The book just flowed out of me… When you’re young, you have this black-and-white concept of marriage. So, we’ve seen the marriages of our parents, which I think, looking back, is very different from the kinds of marriages I see around me in this day and age. So, the thought was to share my thoughts on reasons for marriage. It need not always be about love; different people get married for different reasons and all of that is okay”, declares Agrawal.
Agrawal states, “I tried to bring out what I’ve seen in Delhi. There’s a clear distinction between the business class and the professional class… I have seen many very smart and well-educated women who would never work for anybody and they see it as a failure to be an employee, though they may be qualified to be a professional. I wanted to bring out how a lot of women around me perceive it better to be your own boss rather than go to an office and have a 9-5 job. I may be generalizing, but I see a lot of women prioritize their careers based on how much time they can spend with their family, though, the rest of their family may not have those priorities. They would take up a job as long as they’re not seeking a balance between career and family. But, they want to make sure anything they do with their family is never compromised, because of their work”.
And how could being a lawyer affect the authorship sensibilities and vice-versa?
Agrawal opines, “The two are connected. If lawyers don’t read, they’re not good lawyers. Fiction gives us perspective, which is what we need in this day and age, the kind of complex problems we face, the practical problems that we face, the kind of people we deal with, be it clients, peers, associates or opposing counsel. Fiction gives you empathy. You cannot live every kind of life, but you can experience these journeys in books, so you can definitely understand counterpoints and different perspectives. And, therefore, you could be more constructive in your dealings with people in your work life and in your personal life”.
“Conversely, being a lawyer definitely helps you write better, because we love language and we’re big fans of the written word. We have discipline, we’re technical, analytical and disciplined, in terms of time and effort. So, being a lawyer helps me write better”, quips Agrawal.
Watch the entire interaction here:
