A family affair

"When I give a copy of this book to my wife, I’m going to tear out the letters from Mr to Mrs Seervai,” said Bombay High Court Justice Shiavax Vazifdar in jest while releasing the 356-page publication Evoking H. M. Seervai: Jurist and Authority on the Indian Constitution compiled by his doting wife Feroza to commemorate Seervai’s birth centenary.

Speaking at the Theosophy Hall on August 26, 2005, Vazifdar was referring to extracts of letters read by other speakers that reflected Seervai’s devotion to his wife and family.

"He set standards far too high for most of us to match,” said Vazifdar describing Seervai as "post independent India’s most reputed counsel and greatest advocate.” He had the "courage to criticize sitting judges,” the jurist observed.

Former solicitor general of India, Tehmtan R. Andhyarujina referred to the "charming letters” Seervai wrote that "revealed what he stood for… he had a great love for Feroza and the family.”

Andhyarujina recalled traveling to Delhi for professional work with Seervai. Feroza would accompany him to Bombay airport. Once he arrived in Delhi the "first thing (Seervai) would do is send a letter to Feroza whom he had spoken to only one and a half hours earlier.” He described Seervai as a "profound and erudite legal scholar” with a "tremendous sincerity and honesty of purpose.”

Noted jurist Atul M. Setalvad remarked that he had "not learnt as much (law) from anyone as much as Seervai.” Seervai made no distinction when talking to people, treating them all equally. He was "very communicative,” said Setalvad and was always "thoroughly prepared… he never misled the court.” He also "never charged an excessive fee and never took conflicting work,” added Setalvad.

Shiavax Vazifdar releasing book Inset: Feroza Seervai

When Seervai died, there was a "full court reference,” stated noted jurist Iqbal M. Chagla. He said Seervai was "possessed of that celestial fire.” He would "talk to any junior member of the bar on any point of law.”

Seervai’s love for literature and his ability to recite from memory entire sections of text or verse were referred to by nearly all the speakers. Vazifdar recalled that when he entered Seervai’s chambers, the jurist sometimes would say, "no law today” and make him read literature instead.

Feroza Seervai recalled that "Homi spent 10 hours a day” for 20 years at his Theosophy building office. At 9 a.m. he would open the four locks to access his office, then he would arrange the flowers he brought with him. By 9.15 he would start work. If he required to pass on work to his secretary, he would personally walk across the lobby and deliver the papers.

Feroza remarked how the jubilant shouts and screams of the children at an adjoining school compound made it "impossible (for anyone) to concentrate.” When a visitor commented on the cacophony, Seervai replied, "‘What noise?’… He did not hear the noise” as he was so absorbed in his work, the wife noted.

"He kept me in happy laugher,” one speaker quoted Feroza as saying.

Seervai’s son Navroze remarked how his mother first took up the task of compiling this book around 1979-1980.

Feroza states in the introduction to the book, "I wanted to make the material in the book as little repetitive as possible. Seervai’s own advice was… ‘know what to omit rather than what to include.’”