Surbhi Lal, Avantik Tamta win the Prathiba M Singh Scholarship for pursuing LLM at University of Cambridge

In an event held at Cambridge last month, Surbhi Lal from NLU Delhi and Avantik Tamta of NUJS, West Bengal were awarded the Prathiba M Singh Cambridge scholarship to pursue LLM at the University of Cambridge UK for the academic year 2019-2020.

The scholarships are awarded by the Sardar Manmohan Singh Charitable Trust which is set up by the family of Maninder Singh and Justice Prathiba M Singh.

Surbhi Lal had stood third in her batch at NLU Delhi (2016) winning several gold medals. She had secured admission for LL.M. at various Universities including Cambridge, Harvard, and Oxford. She was practising at a leading law firm in Delhi and was also conducting short courses for undergraduate students at NLU Delhi. 

Avantik Tamta graduated from NUJS (2017) with a gold medal in IP law and Environmental law. His aspiration is to see India as an innovator paradise while providing an improved standard of living for the people.

The Scholarship event, usually held in Delhi, was, for the first time since its inception in 2014-15, organized at the Law Faculty of the University of Cambridge. It was presided over by Prof. Stephen J Toope, Vice-Chancellor, University of Cambridge, Justice Prathiba M Singh and Professor Ellis Ferran, Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Institutional and International Relations.

Speaking on how the Scholarship came to be, Justice Singh stated that she and her husband, Maninder Singh (Senior Advocate & Former Additional Solicitor General of India) wanted to do something different, they wanted to give back. The idea to give back in the form of scholarships germinated on the 50th birthday of Maninder Singh.

A trust was, therefore, set up in 2013, to provide scholarships to meritorious students to pursue a higher legal education at the University of Cambridge. The Trust, named after Senior Advocate Singh’s father, Sardar Manmohan Singh – a migrant civil contractor who was known for his benevolent and helping nature – is family run. In the last 6 years (2014-15) since the institution of the scholarship, they have enabled 11 scholars to pursue the LLM program at the University of Cambridge, and continue to do so through their family trust.

In line with the objective of the trust, most of the scholars have, after completion of their respective courses, returned to India and are contributing to the growth of the Indian Legal System.

Having studied on a Cambridge Trust scholarship herself, Justice Singh while speaking at the event said,

“I am happy to share that in the last 5 years the scholars have returned to India, and have imbibed the purpose of the scholarship – which is to bring back their learning to the country.”

Lauding the benefaction of the Trust, Vice-Chancellor Prof. Toope, stated that her scholars have “enriched intellectual life at the University of Cambridge”. 

Pro-Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Ferran spoke about the need for quality and equality in the higher judiciary. She highlighted the launch of the Cambridge Women in Law Initiative on September 27, 2019, to mark the centenary celebration of the Sex Disqualification (Removal) Act, 1919, when women were finally allowed to practice law. The event was held in the Faculty of Law at Cambridge and was attended by Lady Brenda Hale who had spoken on the occasion.

Prof. Ferran stated that the lead guest (Justice Singh) “embodies all the qualities we seek to champion at Cambridge Women and Law Initiative”.

Joanna Miles, Director of the LLM Program commented,

“As the director with the overall responsibility for admissions I do seek to ensure that we maintain a good diversity internationally. It brings, of course, people of different puristic traditions and backgrounds and its that intellectual richness that we get from that international cohort thats so important.“

Among the notable attendees were Hellan Pennant, Director of the Cambridge Trust, Prof Lionel Bently, Professor of IP law, Ms. Clare Gordon, of the Faculty of Law.

Speaking at the event, one of the scholarship recipients, Surbhi Lal observed,

“This scholarship is not just about financial support. It is larger than that. It is about an amazing experience, it is about growth. It is about a commitment to oneself. And above all it is about being associated with a mentor like Justice Singh.”

The other recipient, Avantik Tamta echoed the sentiment in his address, remarking,

“I sense it as a responsibility upon my shoulders, a duty to imbibe the virtue of generosity and also learn to give back to people in whatever little way I can of the knowledge gained and the skills learnt.“

After hearing the speeches from the scholars, Prof Toope remarked that he is not surprised at the excellent words spoken by the scholars as Indians are the best advocates he has come across. 

To watch the scholarship event, click here.

With inputs from Advocate Ansh Singh Luthra