Shyam Upadhyay is a lawyer who has a unique passion for the ancient language of Sanskrit. He is not only an advocate, but also an Acharya and a BA LLB holder in Sanskrit. He has been practicing law in Sanskrit since 1978, and has never used any other language in his court work.
Shyam Upadhyay was inspired by his father, who told him that the Indian courts do not use the Sanskrit language. He decided to take up law as a career and vowed to use Sanskrit in court. He completed his BA LLB degree from Harishchandra College in Varanasi, and started arguing cases in Sanskrit from 1978.
Acharya Shyam Upadhyay recalled how much he loved Sanskrit and how, in his early years, he used to travel somewhere with his father. He was ten years old and enrolled in the fourth grade at the time. Father met a few individuals en route, and they all began speaking Bhojpuri to each other. In the meantime, his father said to the people, “Is it not possible for us to converse in Sanskrit the same way that we do in Bhojpuri?” Acharya Shyam Upadhyay had this in his heart, regardless of whether the people around him realised it or not.
At that point, Shyam Upadhyay decided he wanted to study Sanskrit. He received his Acharya in Buddhist philosophy from Sanskrit Vishwavidyalaya and Sampurnan. He began by working as a teacher, at the request of his mentor. But Shyam Upadhyay was interested in doing something different. He later completed his BA LLB degree at Harishchandra College for this reason. Following this, he began arguing the case in Sanskrit in 1978, and he has done so ever since.
He is easily distinguishable in the traditional black coat with Tripund and Tilak. Shyam Upadhyay is known for his fluent and eloquent arguments in Sanskrit, which leave the judges and the audience spellbound. He also writes affidavits, applications, petitions, and other legal documents in Sanskrit. He explains his cases to his clients in simple and easy-to-understand terms. He says that he uses simple language because he wants everyone to understand the justice system.
Shyam Upadhyay has been honored with the ‘Sanskrit Mitram’ award by the Human Resource and Development Ministry for his contribution to promoting Sanskrit since 1978. He has also written over 60 novels in Sanskrit. He is one of the most respected and admired lawyers in India.
Shyam Upadhyay’s story shows how one can pursue one’s passion and make a difference with dedication and hard work. He is an example of how Sanskrit can be used as a tool for education, empowerment, and social change. What do you think of Shyam Upadhyay’s unique way of practicing law? Share your thoughts with us in the comments section below.
