"Righteousness in his DNA"
"Righteousness in his DNA"
Tehmtan Andhyarujina, the man, played a faultless innings. In every department of the game. For those who did not know him, it may be difficult to believe his near perfect existence. His son, senior counsel Zal’s foreword to this privately published Tehmtan R. Andhyarujina. A Tribute, sums it all up: "... he remained from the beginning essentially the same man; unfailingly kind to all, fiercely proud of his humble roots, self-effacing and modest, liberal to a fault and selfless. Never have I heard him say a cross word about anyone. He chose to trust his friendship to a few but remarkably made no enemies; ….."
Barring his niece Dr Azmy Birdi in London, all contributors to this book, are lawyers. They include Fali Nariman and Soli Sorabjee, as also his many juniors, themselves eminent lawyers. Apart from the rather formal full court references of the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court, each tribute drips with affection and awe.
"Righteousness was in his DNA," writes Sorabjee. "Tehmtan made few friends at the Bar. But he had one redeeming quality — he made no enemies," notes his New Delhi neighbor, and possibly the greatest Indian lawyer, Nariman.
Many an eminent person does not like to dwell on his humble roots. Tehmtan very proudly spoke of them. Tehmtan always recalled his "extremely humble beginnings," writes his junior, Mustafa Doctor, now a senior counsel. Seervai’s son, Navroz, one of the most well read and brilliant lawyers at the Bombay Bar, in an emotional account describes the great friendship between his and Tehmtan’s father Rustom, and the most "unassuming, self-effacing and genuinely humble man" that Tehmtan was.
Tehmtan involved himself in community matters. His cerebral contribution to the Committee for Electoral Rights (CER) legal fire power during the 1981 Anjuman Committee voter registration drive and elections counterbalanced lawyer and subsequently Bombay Parsi Punchayet trustee Dadi Engineer’s easy going frivolity. Never inclined to capitalize on his opponent’s errors, he was so fair that judges blindly trusted him.
Attractively designed and printed by Spenta Multimedia, the 93-page book contains some rare family photographs.
Tehmtan was the first counsel, I had briefed, as a solicitor. Over the decades, he remained a charming friend; a great espouser of Parsi liberal causes, a lawyer whose appearance guaranteed that the judge would readily accept the veracity of every fact he described.
A man who discharges every role in his life, without the slightest blemish – doting son, loving husband, adoring father, honest and brilliant professional, warm friend and yet, retains innate humility, is not too far from sainthood.
BERJIS DESAI
Desai is a lawyer in private practice and a part-time writer.