Author’s Note -
About the Author -
Note of Gratitude -
1. Growing Up in Mangalore -
2. The Follies of Youth: Becoming a Lawyer -
3. One of Seven: Reflections About My Family -
4. Shantha -
5. Being Apolitical in Tamil Nadu Politics -
6. Outstation Brief Travels Around the World -
7. 27-28 May 1964: Witnessing the Last Journey of the First Prime Minister of India -
8. The Dark Days of the Emergency -
9. Moving to Delhi and Being a Law Officer -
10. The 1984 Riots -
11. Visiting the Jewel of Tibet: Travel to Manasarovar -
12. Risking My Life -
13. Politics vs Pragmatism: The Implementation of the Mandal Commission Report -
14. Reaping the Whirlwind: Demolition of the Babri Masjid -
15. No Holds Barred: Politics Within the Legal Profession -
16. Foreign Exchange: Foray into the International Bar -
17. The Dragon's Evolution: Travels to China over the years -
18. Friends and Enemies: Appearing in Some Political Cases -
19. Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of West Bengal -
20. Being a Pat of World History: Advising the Governments of Bhutan, Sri Lanka and Nepal -
21. Treasures of Travancore: The Case of the Padmanabhaswamy Temple -
22. The National Judicial Appointments Commission: A Missed Opportunity for Judicial Reform -
23. Son vs Father and Father vs Son -
24. Attorney General for India -
25. On Top of the World: Travels to the North Pole -
26. My Antiquarian Library -
27. An Epistle to Young Lawyers -
Appendix 1 -
Appendix 2.

A legal luminary, K.K. Venugopal has played an unputdownable role in the development of constitutional law in India. This autobiography is an attempt to preserve in perpetuity the life of one of India’s legendary constitutional lawyers. Providing a fascinating account of Venugopal’s life—-both professional and personal—-It not only unravels the lawyer and the person in him but also recapitulates India’s dynamic socio-political and legal history. Presenting both the high and low points of Venugopal’s life , An Accidental Lawyer captures his interactions with his family and friends as well as judiciary, legislature and executive. It offers a unique perspective on his relations with key political figures such as prime ministers, chief ministers, governors, among others. Peppered with interesting anecdotes and consisting of landmark legal cases, the book will be of interest to both general readers and the practitioners and students of law interested in learning court craft from one of India’s eminent jurists.