Welcome to the official website of the Advocates'
Association of Western India, Mumbai founded by
Mr. Dhirajlal Mathuradas,
the first President of AAWI. This site has been developed by LexSite.com
and we hope to
be able to offer you a host of services through this site.
The Founding Fathers of the Association met on 24th January 1864, for establishing the Association which at that time was named
Vakils' Association of Western India.
Mr. Dhirajlal Mathuradas who was one amount them was elected the first
President of the Association. Mr. Dhirajlal belonged to Surat, people of which
place in those days had greater access to Bombay than those of the Northern parts of Gujarat. He was also a Government Pleader
for several years of Her Majesty's Court of Judicature at Bombay and since the limitation of 3 years for an Government Pleader did
not then exist, he continued to be Government Pleader till his death in 1876. Usually it was the Government Pleader, who was the
leader of Appellate Side Bar, that was the President of the Association in those days and as such the name of Mr. Dhirajlal
appears as the President of those days.
Mr. Dhirajlal was the cousin (son of mother's sister) of Shri G. N. Thakore's father who was Broach. It is, therefore, that
Shri G. N. Thakore has said that the belonged to the family of lawyers. He was a very eminent and successful lawyers. His
inspiration encouraged other persons in Northern Gujarat, Broach and Ahmedabad to take to the study of law and become pleaders in
the mofussil. He was a contemporary of Mr. Nanabhai Haridas who was also one of the Founders of the Association, who also hailed
from Surat and who was the first Indian to be appointed a permanent Judge of the Bombay High Court.
Mr. Dhirajlal had two
Children, both daughters. He passed away in October 1876.
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