Historical Figures

22. Instead of becoming a judge in the High Court, Vallabhbhai decided to practice in Ahmedabad.

Vallabhbhai returned to India on 13 February 1913. He was full of self-confidence and wanted to explore all the possibilities before starting any work afresh. So he reached Bombay and met Sir Basil Scott, Chief Justice of Bombay High Court.

When Scott saw them, he kept looking. An Indian barrister in an expensive wooden suit, a very attractive felt hat was smoking a very expensive cigar. Every act of his was going to defeat the British. London returnee Vallabhbhai knew very well how to meet an English judge on an equal footing.

Scott, in view of his fluent English, first place in barrister and quick-witted demeanor, requested him to accept the position of judge in the Bombay High Court. Vallabhbhai politely declined the request and said that he would take up his own practice. Young men who came from London as barristers used to practice in Bombay in those days

But Vallabhbhai decided to make Ahmedabad his karmabhoomi which was only 80 kms away from his native village Karamsad. The sessions court of Kheda was also in Ahmedabad. Many old acquaintances of Vallabhbhai lived in this area, so there was no shortage of work for Vallabhbhai.