Lajpat Rai had started pleading cases right after he did his pleadership course in 1882. He worked in and around Jagraon.
As a pleader he was making about Rs. 200/- a month which was not bad in the prevailing conditions around. His father was not earning even that much money after putting in so many years of his life in his teaching profession.
But Lajpat Rai was not happy. To him pleading cases in the lower court of a small town was degrading. He felt suffocated. That’s why he was doing lawyer degree course hoping for the improvement.
His heart all through was in social reforms work and the politics.
Even after becoming a lawyer he found no satisfaction or pride in legal work. Sometimes he got so frustrated that he confided to his close friends that he would never again touch legal assignments once he was through with it.
From Jagraon he shifted to Rohtak where his father was also employed at that time. The change of place brought no joy to him. His frustration with legal work didn’t go away. To make matters worse the business didn’t pick up.
In the year 1886, one year after he became a lawyer, he happened to visit Hissar in connection with a case. Lajpat Rai liked that place and he had a feeling that Hissar would be better suited for his practice. He took final decision and moved to Hissar shortly later. He set up his practice there and remained rooted to it for the next six years during which he matured as a lawyer. During this period he continued to become more and more committed to his social and political missions.
His experience as a lawyer proved a great plus point for his political career. Lawyers and Barristers were joining the only political organisation that had come up by the name ‘Indian National Congress’.
His legal practice at Hissar made him some good money. Meanwhile, on domestic front he had become the father of two sons and a daughter. As he was earning well he made his aging father retire from his teaching profession. Master Radhakrishan gratefully did that. He helped his brothers complete their education and got his sister married off.
He carried on his legal practice just for the sake of his family. His ultimate goal was to serve Arya Samaj movement full time and take a headlong plunge into the freedom politics of the country. He already had joined Congress party. By the arrival of the year 1900 he become so involved in his social reforms programmes and political activities that carrying on the legal practice became almost impossible. He was feeling like a handicapped person. Although he had become a much sought after High Court lawyer yet his missions more closer to his heart pulled him away.
He disclosed his decision to quit legal practice to his family.
His father was shocked and he protested against the decision of his son. He wanted Lajpat Rai to continue his practice and keep supporting the family.
Lajpat Rai had taken care of the future financial needs of his family already. He had fulfilled his primary obligations to the members of the family. For his own wife and children he had set aside a goodly sum of cash and property which could suffice for all their needs. The brothers and the sister had got settled down nicely. He had made adequate provisions for his father and the mother.
The father continued to protest but the mother supported the resolve of her son.
To him legal practice looked an aimless exercise. He had no heart in it. He had taken it up for financial reasons and that objective had been achieved.
Now he could focus on the causes dear to his heart.
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