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One of the first stories that Sikh children are told is how the ninth Guru was martyred.Ìý I was about seven years old when I was first told this story.Ìý Guru Tegh Bahadur was approached by Pandits from Kashmir who were forcibly being prevented from their form of worship by the Mughal Emperor.Ìý Although he was not of the Hindu faith, the Guru was asked to speak on their behalf for as a leader of great repute he had the best chance of convincing the Emperor to reconsider, and coming from a lineage that unequivocally supported free speech his credibility was beyond doubt.

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From that time onward, I wanted to be a lawyer.Ìý I watched confident orators in films and came across dazzling characters in books, all who had mastered the art of verbal reasoning and formal debate.Ìý I latched on to the example set by my Sikh Guru and considered this to be a noble profession where I could also put to good use my growing habit of talking a lot!Ìý Of course as I grew older and learnt more about practising law, it became apparent that this was a complex world home to a variety of disciplines.

By my late teens I knew that I no longer wanted to practise as a barrister or solicitor, but there was no doubt in my mind that I still wanted to study law.Ìý I wanted to acquire the skills and techniques to express myself in a manner that is clear and concise.Ìý I wanted to learn how to dissect an issue and know what not to say which is just as important as what is said.Ìý I wanted to become like my Guru – a person who has the courage to speak freely, on behalf of others if need be.

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The ninth Guru was unsuccessful in convincing the Emperor, but was asked why he was speaking out on behalf of those who were not his followers.Ìý In reply, the Guru said that although he may not believe as others do, he would die defending their right to believe it.Ìý When I heard that story aged seven, I didn’t quite understand what an important sacrifice Guru Tegh Bahadur had made, but today, I am grateful to him and others who have won the freedoms we take for granted.