Supreme Court Judge Justice Ujjal Bhuyan addressed the newly admitted BA-LLB and BBA-LLB students of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University, Sonepat, on the fifth day of Deeksharambh 2026. His keynote address combined personal experiences, constitutional reflections and practical advice for the Batch of 2026–2031.
The fifth day of Deeksharambh 2026 at Dr. B.R. Ambedkar National Law University (DBRANLU), Sonepat, witnessed the presence of Hon’ble Mr. Justice Ujjal Bhuyan, Judge, Supreme Court of India, as the Chief Guest and keynote speaker.
Justice Bhuyan welcomed the university’s newly admitted Batch of 2026–2031, comprising students of the BA-LLB and BBA-LLB programmes. His keynote address brought together personal reminiscences, constitutional reflection and advice for the five years of legal education that lay ahead of the incoming students.
Vice Chancellor and Registrar Welcome the Incoming Batch
The session commenced with addresses by Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh, Vice Chancellor, DBRANLU, and Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra, Registrar, DBRANLU. Both speakers welcomed the new batch to the university and set the tone for the students’ forthcoming academic journey.
Prof. (Dr.) Devinder Singh spoke about the university’s vision and the expectations placed upon students as they began a new chapter in their academic lives. Prof. (Dr.) Ashutosh Mishra highlighted the administrative and institutional support structures available to assist students in settling into the university environment.
Prof. V.K. Ahuja Reflects on the Distinctive Culture of NLUs
Following the introductory addresses, Prof. (Dr.) V.K. Ahuja, Director, Indian Law Institute, New Delhi, addressed the gathering. Drawing upon his experience across several institutions, including his tenure as the Vice Chancellor of NLU Assam and his current role at the Indian Law Institute, he reflected on the distinctive character of National Law Universities.
Prof. Ahuja spoke about the academic rigour, competitive yet collaborative environment and intellectual discipline associated with National Law Universities. He also shared his observations on how the culture of NLUs has evolved over the years and how it differs from that of other law schools in the country.
Justice Ujjal Bhuyan Recalls His Early Ambition to Become a Lawyer
Justice Bhuyan began his address by congratulating the students on securing admission to DBRANLU. He observed that the students were fortunate to be part of an institution possessing a distinctive locational advantage, as it is the only CLAT-affiliated National Law University situated in the National Capital Region.
He then recalled an incident from his school days. Justice Bhuyan said that while studying in Class 7, he had told his classmates that he wished to become a lawyer. His ambition was met with laughter from his batchmates.
His teacher, however, stepped in and explained that studying law was ultimately about learning to understand the many shades, complexities and nuances contained within the discipline rather than pursuing a narrow or straightforward course.
Justice Bhuyan also spoke about his early years at the Bar and acknowledged the contribution of the senior advocates who mentored him in the practical intricacies of legal practice. He indicated that the professional grounding received at the Bar provided a foundation that classroom education alone could not have offered.
He said that he continued to find it fulfilling to interact with young talent, whether in a college auditorium or at the Bar. He also remarked upon the promise of DBRANLU, Sonepat, observing that the institution was fittingly named after Bharat Ratna Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Justice Bhuyan Reflects on Dr. B.R. Ambedkar’s Constitutional Legacy
A substantial part of Justice Bhuyan’s keynote address was devoted to the framing of the Indian Constitution and the role played by Dr. B.R. Ambedkar as its principal architect.
Justice Bhuyan referred to the Poona Pact, the constitutional incorporation of affirmative action and Dr. Ambedkar’s role as independent India’s first Law Minister. He described Dr. Ambedkar as the figure who shaped the contours and mechanisms of the Constitution.
No serious examination of the Constitution can be complete without understanding the life and struggles of Dr. B.R. Ambedkar.
Tracing Dr. Ambedkar’s life, Justice Bhuyan recalled his origins in a Mahar family that faced entrenched socio-economic discrimination from the earliest years of his schooling. He referred to the role of a schoolteacher who recognised and encouraged Dr. Ambedkar’s intellectual abilities.
Justice Bhuyan noted that Dr. Ambedkar subsequently studied in Bombay with the assistance of a scholarship extended by the Maharaja of Baroda. He later earned a doctorate in economics from Columbia University and pursued further studies at the London School of Economics.
This academic trajectory, Justice Bhuyan observed, established Dr. Ambedkar as a scholar of both law and economics.
Justice Bhuyan also recalled Dr. Ambedkar’s enrolment with the Bombay Bar Council in 1923, his rapid recognition as an eminent counsel, his tenure as the Principal of Government Law College and his decision to decline an offer of judgeship.
Equality Gave Voice to Those Who Had Long Been Voiceless
Turning to the constitutional text, Justice Bhuyan spoke about the enduring vibrancy of the Indian Constitution. He located its essence in the Preamble and particularly emphasised the constitutional value of equality.
He explained that equality served as the mechanism through which a feudal social order was transformed into a modern constitutional society. It enabled individuals and communities that had long remained voiceless to acquire recognition and representation within the constitutional framework.
Universities Must Encourage Curiosity and Freedom of Thought
Justice Bhuyan described universities as spaces in which vibrant and diverse ideas should converge. He said that one of the foremost responsibilities of a university was to inculcate curiosity among its students.
Invoking former President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Justice Bhuyan observed that educational institutions must allow students to ask questions freely. Teachers, in turn, must possess the patience to respond to those questions satisfactorily. Such an exchange, he said, was essential for the development of scientific temper.
Justice Bhuyan also invoked Rabindranath Tagore and referred to the poet’s vision in Gitanjali of a nation in which dignity and fearless thought shape intellectual life.
Drawing additionally upon Swami Vivekananda, he reflected that Tagore’s legacy could not be confined to any single field. He suggested that if anyone were to be reborn in Tagore’s image, that image might be found in a person possessing both judicial and intellectual stature.
Justice Bhuyan concluded his reflections on freedom of thought by returning to the same verse of Tagore with which he had framed his remarks.
Students Urged to Read and Participate Beyond the Classroom
Justice Bhuyan encouraged the students to make full use of their years at the university. He urged them to participate actively in extracurricular activities and remain continuously engaged with domestic and international affairs.
Describing law as a constantly evolving field, he emphasised that legal education could not remain limited to classroom instruction or prescribed textbooks. Students must remain informed about events and developments taking place around them.
Reading, he said, was the surest route to developing the kind of exquisite and well-furnished mind that legal education should seek to produce.
“There Is Space for Everyone”: Justice Bhuyan’s Advice to the Batch of 2026–2031
Justice Bhuyan concluded his keynote address with what he described as his central message to the incoming Batch of 2026–2031.
“Don’t enter any rat race. There is space for everyone.”
He advised the students not to measure their progress against that of others or become consumed by unnecessary competition. Instead, they should use their time at the university to discover their individual interests and find their own path within the legal profession.
The fifth day of Deeksharambh 2026 thus brought together institutional guidance, reflections on the culture of legal education and a wide-ranging keynote address centred on constitutional values, intellectual curiosity, reading and professional individuality.