This book gives a detailed account of the life and works of Nani Ardeshir Palkhivala, eminent Indian lawyer and diplomat.
M.V. Kamath ends his detailed study of Nani Palkhivala’s life with what Nani had said about himself a few days before his passing away, a composition by Robert N. Test – a stanza which states “If you must bury something, let it be my faults, my weaknesses, and all prejudice against my fellow man.”
Essentially Nani was a humble man and in his humility lay his strength. When R.M. Lala asked him how he could remain so humble, he replied in one sentence, “I was always aware of my own limitations.” The Nani A. Palkhivala Memorial Trust must be complimented on requesting M.V. Kamath to write the biography of Nani A. Palkhivala for it reinforces the truism that only true greatness can recognise greatness in the other person. M V. Kamath is a doyen among journalists and Nani was a doyen in the field of Law. It is no easy task to write the biography of Nani Palkhivala. As the short introduction by the Trust rightly points out that too much material is available, on Nani Palkhiva. To sift and organise them is no easy task but Kamath has done a commendable job – a detailed and delightful biography highlighting the achievements of Nani Palkhivala in the profession of Law and as a human being.
Nani Palkhivala endeared himself to the public by his budget speeches delivered at the Brabourne Stadium in Bombay before an audience of one lakh people. The Parsis are a tiny community but a significant one for their contribution to modern India. Dadabhai Naoroji and Jamshedji Tata were adored by the parsis as ‘apro’. And so was Nani Palkhivala, a rare honour as R.M. Lala states in his brief biographical sketch of Palkhivala.
From the 1960’s to 1990’s Nani Palkhivala drew lakhs to hear him speak on the budget. “He reeled off facts and figures and statistics punctuated with quotations from Shakespeare, Mahatma Gandhi, Nehru, Lord Acton and C. Rajagopalachari.” M.V. Kamath begins with a brief chapter on the Parsis who were ‘large at heart’. To their distinguished galaxy can be added the name of Nani Palkhivala whom Rajaji described as ‘God’s gift to India’.
Nani Palkhivala had a distinguished academic career. He was versatile, in fact he did not touch anything that he could not adorn. He wrote a monumental book on Income Tax early in his life, appeared in several legal and constitutional cases and his observations were always incisive and far-sighted.
He held Sri Aurobindo in high esteem and admired his views. He had a two-year stint as Ambassador of India in the U.S.A and received the admiration of the American people for his bold and fearless views. One cannot help pointing out that people like Nani Palkhivala should have occupied positions of responsibility in the country’s affairs but that was not to be. In fact he alluded to it when he said that no political party would accept him because no political party would like the truth.
His addresses to young audiences were always out of the ordinary. He was never dull. Addressing the 125th anniversary celebration of the Bombay University in Nagpur, he said pointing out at Law’s delay – “that law may or may not be an ass but in India it certainly is a snail” – this evoked a huge laughter in the audience.
Nani Palkhivala died in December 2002, a disillusioned man. The tragedy of Nani Palkhivala was that he loved India so much that it could break his heart. In his passing away India lost an illustrious leader, thinker and a fine human being. M.V. Kamath’s biography should be in the hands of all those who love India.
