Nani A. Palkhivala, a stalwart of the Tata Group, passed away in Mumbai on Wednesday, December 11, 2002. He was 82. Mr Palkhivala was taken critically ill on December 7 and hospitalised at Jaslok Hospital. His funeral will be held at Allbless Bungli, Mumbai, on Thursday, December 12.

Born on January 16, 1920, in Mumbai, Mr Palkhivala was a man of many parts. A lawyer by profession, he was a fellow of the Government Law College, Mumbai, and, later, an honorary professor of the college for many years.

In 1975, he was elected an honorary member of the Academy of Political Science, New York, in recognition of his outstanding public service and distinguished contribution to the advancement of political science. In June 1978, Princeton University, New Jersey, United States, conferred on Mr Palkhivala the honorary degree of doctor of laws, describing him as a "defender of constitutional liberties, champion of human rights, teacher, author and economic developer".

In his long and distinguished career with the Tata Group, Mr Palkhivala was a director on the boards of several leading Tata companies, including Tata Sons, Tata Steel, Tata Engineering and Indian Hotels. He was on the board of trustees of the Sir Dorabji Tata Trust and the Sir Ratan Tata Trust, and was also the chairman of the executive committee of TCS for several years.

In addition to his deep and dedicated involvement with several corporate activities, he was the president of the Forum of Free Enterprise, chairman of the Leslie Sawhny Programme of Training for Democracy, chairman of the A. D. Shroff Memorial Trust, president of the Income-Tax Appellate Tribunal Bar Association, Mumbai, and a trustee of other charitable trusts.

Mr Palkhivala was not just a legend; he was an institution. He became a phenomenon in Indian public life with his Union Budget lectures the largest ever public meetings on an economic subject as well as for the famous battles he fought for constitutional rights and democracy.

As an author, his books on taxation, constitutional law and on India's priceless heritage, have become bywords on the subjects. He also distinguished himself as India's ambassador to the United States. Above all, he will be remembered as the conscience keeper of the nation during the turbulent 1970s.