Noted jurist, constitutional expert Nani A Palkhivala is no more
Our
Economy Bureau
11 December 2002
Born on 16 January 1920 in Bombay, Palkhivala, a lawyer by profession, was a fellow of the Government Law College, Bombay, and later an honorary professor of the college for many years. In 1975, he was elected as an honorary member of the Academy of Political Science, New York, in recognition of his outstanding public services and distinguished contributions to the advancement of political science.
In June 1978, Princeton University, New Jersey (USA), conferred on Palkhivala the honorary degree of doctor of laws, describing him as a “defender of constitutional liberties, champion of human rights, teacher, author and economic developer.”
In his long and distinguished career with the Tata group, Palkhivala was a director on the boards of several leading Tata companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Steel, Tata Engineering and Indian Hotels, among others. He was on the board of trustees of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and Sir Ratan Tata Trust and was also the chairman of the executive committee of TCS for several years.
In
addition to his deep and dedicated involvement with
several corporate activities, he was also the president
of the Forum of Free Enterprise, chairman of the Leslie
Sawhny Programme of Training for Democracy, chairman
of the AD Shroff Memorial Trust, president of the Income-Tax
Appellate Tribunal Bar Association, Bombay, and a trustee
of other charitable trusts.
Palkhivala was not just a legend — he was an institution. He became a phenomenon in Indian public life with his Union Budget lectures — the largest-ever public meetings on an economic subject as well as for the famous battles he fought for constitutional rights and democracy.
As an author, his books on taxation, constitutional law and on India’s priceless heritage, have become bywords on the subjects. He also distinguished himself as India’s ambassador to the US. Above all, he will be remembered as the conscience keeper of the nation during the turbulent era of the 70s.
