Gimi Memorial Lecture

The Jal P. Gimi Memorial Lecture of the Nagpur University was delivered at the J. N. Tata Hall on April 5, 2008 by Harish Salve, noted senior counsel and former attorney general of India. Gimi and Harish Salve’s father, N. K. P. Salve were contemporaries and close friends, a friendship that has continued into the next generation with Gimi’s sons Feroze, Farhad and Shiraz remaining Harish Salve’s friends, as stated in a report sent to Parsiana. This was the second lecture in the series instituted by the University in memory of Gimi, its former vice chancellor. The inaugural lecture in 2007 was delivered by Dr J. J. Irani, director of Tatas.

After the traditional lamp was lit Nagpur’s former mayor Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh, member of the University’s executive council and senate spoke about his association with Gimi who had served the University in various capacities for 42 years without accepting any compensation. Gimi would cycle to office, not wishing to use the official car provided for him as the University was going through a financial crunch, Singh recalled.

(Below, L to R): Dr Thrity Patel, Kunda Vijaykar, Harish Salve, Dr S. N. Pathan, Sardar Atal Bahadur Singh, Shiraz Gimi and Subhash Belsare

Gimi’s son Shiraz thanked the University officials for instituting a lecture series in memory of his father and Salve for accepting the invitation despite many other pressing engagements. Vice chancellor Dr S. N. Pathan presented Salve with a silver salver, a shawl and shrifal (coconut), the write-up revealed. Dr Thrity Patel, head of the Department of Law, Nagpur University introduced the speaker at length, dwelling on his achievements as senior counsel specializing in constitutional and taxation law and how he has represented the Indian government at many legal forums in London and Washington.

Salve fondly recalled his association with Gimi during his college days and acknowledged that the lessons he had learned then have stayed with him. His knowledgeable views on "Judicial activism,” the theme of the lecture, held the audience spellbound for nearly an hour. Stressing the need to strengthen democracy to avoid judicial activism, Salve explained that the judiciary is not transgressing its limits but is only filling the huge vacuum created by the executive to enforce accountability. "If we shed the factors like regionalism, religion and caste, India could become (a) robust economy and judicial activism would find its mention only in books,” The Sunday Times of India, Nagpur, April 6, 2008 quoted Salve.

A question and answer session followed and after a vote of thanks by Subhash Belsare, registrar of Nagpur University, those present partook of a high tea on the lawns of the Convocation Hall during which many students asked to be photographed with the distinguished guest who patiently obliged.