‘Towards One World’: A salute to an inspiring piece of literature

By Tanya Goonewardene

The world as we know it has been engineered by the hands of a few prominent men who design systems and set in place procedures to be followed or altered by generations to come. Populations and continents live, serve and observe rituals of these few minds and treat them as a way of life.

The delightful perusal of Justice Weeramantry’s work, ‘The Memoirs of Judge C.G Weeramantry’ is invigorating for many reasons. As a raw recruit of the legal profession, to me, it breathes life into absolute concepts of truth, justice and the role of law and its application towards the betterment of the entire populous of the world.

The beckoning question remains whether the title of the work ‘Towards One World’ encapsulates a certain philosophy of self-governance. As one navigates the pages, it cannot be helped being struck by the notion that the author is above being a citizen of any nation and writes as a citizen of the world with a certain resolve to represent mankind.  

His affinity towards law is beyond any system of regulation and refers to it as our common global inheritance which is universally applied and thereby perceives law as a tool that can shape the course of the world. Several quotations elucidate the deep subconscious of the writer and it is common to stumble upon pearls of wisdom that speak to the hearts of law students, practitioners and policy makers alike.  

I cannot resist the temptation to quote a few (abundance of which is sprinkled evenly throughout the book):

“Equip oneself for life not solely for your own benefit but for the benefit of the whole community” – Sir John Monash.

“God did not vest humans with an intellect for it to rust unused”

“My country is the world. My religion is to do good” – Thomas Paine

His work, one begins to realise is of great magnitude that has altered the course of many decisions that shaped the universe. The mandate is beyond self and above any height of ambition. The governing philosophy of his work appears to be a strong will to serve and to act as a global conscience that is absent in a self-consumed world.

Yet, after every outstanding accomplishment judge would bow out of the limelight saying “…the results are encouraging, but miniscule in comparison with the work that remains to be done.” His work shares the same humility that his graceful countenance did on national television when a member of the profession conducted an interview on the program ‘Check-Mate’ aired on national television on his great work.

As a law student, days and nights are spent unravelling the intricate work of great masters of jurisprudence such as Sir Ivor Jennings and Lord Denning who occupy the place of paragons throughout one’s legal education. To observe the comments Judge Weeramantry has to make about them as those whom he has known personally worked with, shared thoughts and ideas with, is as fascinating as he himself must have once felt while co-teaching alongside Professor Julius Stone at Monash University.

His work undoubtedly radiates the light of learning in such a manner as will make it virtually impossible for those who are fortunate enough to read it, to ignore its call to action and comprehend the wider perspectives and responsibilities of one’s chosen profession.

This goes any beyond self-ambition and advancement into spheres that are likely to have a meaningful impact on the human future. It is also a battle cry to lawyers and policy makers wherever in the world they are placed to contribute towards the progress of equality and justice and move us all – ‘towards one world’.