A man of equanimity, culture, knowledge
Ashok Desai, India’s former attorney general and one of the country’s most distinguished lawyers, passed away on Monday. It was deeply distressing and saddening news. I was privileged to know him over decades and every interaction with him was always enlightening. He also had a wit and sense of humour even while pursuing the somewhat sombre profession of an attorney.
He was a product of the London School of Economics (LSE) and thereafter of the Lincoln Inn, London. He was the chairman of the Committee on Administrative Law of International Law Association, and worked with the United Nations Human Rights Commission in Geneva as well as represented India at the World Trade Organisation Appellate body. Understandably, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan having served both as Solicitor and Attorney General of India.
Having worked with him closely on some matters, here are a few instances I would like to recall.
First, he played a critical role in drafting an affidavit on behalf of the central government, which brought the famous Hawala case to a final closure. The case had, in many ways, altered the political milieu since many important politicians and others had suffered when their names had figured in the Jain Hawala diary.
At a certain stage, when I became the revenue secretary, repetitive hearings and adjournments by Supreme Court was becoming exhausting for the government. It was Ashok — the then attorney general — who felt we should expeditiously bring this matter to a closure.
The then Prime Minister I K Gujral had constituted a committee under chairmanship of NN Vohra, former principal secretary to PM, for drafting an affidavit. I was a member of it. The affidavit drafted by him, and which was finally accepted by the Supreme Court, made important changes by way of guaranteeing security of tenure, adherence to selection procedures and autonomy to be given to Central Bureau of Investigation and Enforcement Directorate. Later, Central Vigilance Commissioner became the supervisory entity as an overarching watchdog. Ashok’s drafting of the affidavit, in line with the psychology of the court, led to ultimate closure of the case. It was a relief to all stakeholders.
Second, much later, we were both members of India Advisory Board of London School of Economics, co-chaired by Lord Nicholas Stern and myself. As a member, given his past LSE connections, he always had creative ideas on what could be done to enhance the academic reach of this prestigious institution in India. Fostering interchange of students, faculty members and joint research projects were some ideas he had put forward persuasively.
Third, on a somewhat lighter side, being an exceedingly sophisticated individual, and given his interest in art and culture, fondness for classical music, both western and Indian, was indeed awesome. I once recall that on a visit to Vienna, for a meeting of Narcotics Control Board of United Nations, we witnessed an opera called Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. It was entertaining, although somewhat heavy and needed experience to be fully appreciated. I was stunned he had remembered every aria (an elaborate melody sung solo) by-heart, and before the aria could even get started, to my amazement, he would fully recite the arias himself.
Much later, when we were in London for a conference, we had gone to a popular opera by Giuseppe Verdi called La Traviata and, characteristic to his style, he repeated the same feat of reciting the operas by-heart as if he knew them inside out. He was equally conscious of British habits, and at commencement of the play, reminded me in case I wanted a drink, right time to order was at the beginning to obviate any unseeming rush during the interval. Perhaps few could recite the contents of all Shakespeare play with such velocity.
I also recall during private recitals of Pandit Jasraj or Kishori Amonkar at my house, he would invariably occupy a seat in the front and savour every bit. He was a man of great equanimity, cultivated manners and scholastic understanding of a wide range of subjects. He was a towering personality in the legal fraternity.
India has lost one of its finest legal minds. I have lost a personal friend whose presence I will greatly miss. Without hesitation, it can be said he was clearly a cut above the others, and by today’s standards, a class apart.