Alas, not a law minister

Whilst releasing a commemorative postage stamp on Nani A. Palkhivala on his 84th birth anniversary, in Bombay, on January 16, 2004 the Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee stated that Palkhivala’s deep commitment to democracy and his courage of conviction made him a national icon.

Vajpayee added, "Nani was undoubtedly one of the greatest constitutional lawyers of his time (with) few parallels even in civil, corporate, taxation and international laws.”

The Prime Minister said, "Nani could be described as the best law minister that India never had and also the best finance minister the country never had.”

For long years, the budget presented in Parliament had an exposition by Palkhivala. But one significant difference was that the finance minister often faced criticism for his budget while Palkhivala received bouquets of admiration when he spoke to a packed house in Brabourne Stadium.

BHIKHAJI M. ADENWALLA