Page 7 - sands of time

VOL. XVI, ISSUE 3, 2020 SANDS OF TIME 7

NANI A. PAlkhIvAlA - ThE MAN Of All sEAsONs...

former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter. FROM THE

Nargesh and Nani Palkhivala along with Morarji Desai, former Prime Minister of India and Nani Palkhivala.
From L to R: John Galbraith, American Economist,

be made the next day. I was happy that the agonising tours and, later, on his completing fifty years at the
hours of indecision were over. Sound sleep is one of Bar. He was awarded a Certificate of Honour by the
the blessings I have always enjoyed. That night I went Bar Association of India in recognition of outstanding
COLLECTION
to bed and looked forward to my usual quota of deep contribution to the development of Constitutional
slumber. But suddenly and inexplicably, I became Law and for commitment to the Rule of Law and for
wide awake at three o’clock in the morning with the selfless service to the legal profession.
clear conviction, floating like a hook through my Nani Palkhivala was appointed Indian Ambassador to
consciousness, that my decision was erroneous and the United States in 1977 by the Janata government
that I should reverse it before it was too late. Early in (the first non-Congress Government in India) headed
OF THE
the morning I profusely apologised to the Law Minister by Morarji Desai and served in the capacity till 1979.
for changing my mind.” During his tenure in the USA as India’s Ambassador,

The Honorary Membership of The Academy of Political Princeton University, New Jersey, and Lawrence
Science, New York, the first National Amity Award, the University, Wisconsin, conferred on him the honorary
prestigious Dadabhai Naoroji Memorial Award and degree of Doctor of Laws. Years later, Annamalai
TATA CENTRAL ARCHIVES
Padma Vibhushan are some of the many other honours University, Tamil Nadu, and the University of Mumbai
followed suit.
that came his way. His own profession honoured him
with Bar Association receptions during his extensive humanist and God-fearing

What made Palkhivala acceptable to the public was the
fact that he was very humane, humble and courteous
to everyone – be it peon or a senior executive or an
industrialist. Success, fame and fortune did not go
to his head. There was never a trace of arrogance
or conceit or pomposity in him. Humility, natural
modesty and concern for people is what distinguished
him from the rest.

Nani always made it a point to enquire about a relative
or friend when they were ill. Though whether ill or well
he himself worked hard and hardly took time off. He
always ensured that his co-workers and subordinates
Dr. William G. Bowen, President of Princeton University conferring the
Honorary Degree of Doctor of Laws on Nani Palkhivala. took time off to get the required rest.

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