Drama Review: Dummies Drama's Dharaniyin Perumai : A rasika's review, a lawyer's pride, a citizen's tribute to Crown Jewel of legal fraternity- Nani Palkhivala

We had the spectacular deep dive into the Indian History and a day to rejoice the life of the crown jewel of legal fraternity in India.   Sri Nanabhoy Palkhivala.   

He was brought live back on stage, into the court rooms and to the political arena of India that spoke volumes of the great son he was to India and as the safekeeper of Indian Constitution as a tribute on his Birth Centenary Year 2020.   I am sure Sri Nani is all smiles in the heaven, blessing his disciples, and enjoying his Dronacharya moments seeing the team of Dummies Dramas crew bringing his life to 1000s of audience who were blessed to witness the docu-drama

Jan 16- 19 2020 -the auspices of MFAC and full support of Sri. Varadarajan of MFAC, dummies Dramas presented the life of Palkhivala as a centenary celebrations tribute to the great son of India.

In words of Srivotsan, Drama is an experience.  This doc-drama runs close to 80% during the era where mobile phones were not even known.  He pays his grateful thanks to Ms. Shobana Ravi for lending her voice and team of Karthik, Ashwin, Ananya, Sowmya, Dakshi, Giridaran for providing the BGM.   The sets by Padma, Sejas Kanna and make up by Vijay and Perambur Kumar.   

Srivotsan shares his experience of going to Madras University to listen to Nani on his budget analysis in a scooter with his father, was fascinated by the illustrated weekly articles that used to come in Times of India with RK Lakshman Cartoons.   This play is a fan boy moment and tribute.  He calls it is Gurudakshinai to Nani Palkhivala and take inputs from several books of Kamath, Solim Sareja, Dharmendra and many others for his research.   He explains that the team tried their level best to bring in the court room scenes and thanks to the marketing of Kavasam Connect.   50 awesome actors on stage individually and collectively they are known as Dummies Drama’s perumai

Now starts the summary of the great docu-drama we witness in the recent times.  

The Parsi family from where Nani hails are Palanquin creators who believe in perfection and quality.  Nani’s father stands as an inspiration in telling to do it to get things registered in mind than telling it and standing as an example.   He mentions that the great treasures are found after deep researches only.  

Nani as a child struggles with stammering issue and he takes it as personal challenge and participate in the debate competition.    His father inculcates the habit of sharing what ever he has.  He calls it humanity to share things and books become his biggest treasures.  The bookstore owner becomes his destination to lend books for Nani to read as much as he can and that helps him gain abundant knowledge

Prasanna as the Young English Professor and adult Nani makes his mark on the stage.  He calls being independent as the real freedom.   He calls for Building India and give back for generations to come. 

He writes a letter to the Best Swadeshi who was a parsi – Sri JRD Tata and plans to publish/ send the article to Tata, inspired by the letters that Nehru used to write to Indira Gandhi from the prison.   He goes on to tell that there are 2 types of speeches – one to give knowledge and other as if others don’t have that knowledge.   At this stage, referencing to Shakespeare, Nani is called as India’s unshakeablesphere for his wonderful ideology coupled with literature. 

There is a reason behind every strong experience and as he moves on from being an English professor to pursue law, he undergoes a writer’s cramp before the exams.   God’s design is unpredictable.  That’s when Nargis comes into his life as a writing assistant for his entrance exam and makes an entry to his life as his wife.   Love on law takes him to the love of his life.

That was the era of Jamshedji Baramji Kanga who sets example in law.  Iron goes towards magnet and the whole of India was going behind the Iron Man of India Sri Sardar Patel.   Nani makes all attempts to get into Kangaji’s law firm and learns that the 360 degrees of case through understanding is required.   Right interpretation matters. 

Those were the times that the Democratic India was going through rapid changes.   Democracy is said to have 2 oppositions – one inside the Parliament and other of intellectuals who criticizes what governments does which actually helps progress. 

Nani participates in the Income Tax commentary and brings out his book ‘Law and Practices of Income Tax’.   No man under the sun is right.  At this stage Sri. N.H. Bhagvathi comments that a ‘New Lawyer is Born’ referring to Nani

Nani always insists that the law should win, and not the lawyers.   Chennai based Sri Sampath Iyengar files a case on the book written by Nani and issues a legal notice on the IT commentary on Nani, Kanga, and the publishers.  Finally, with his detailed facts and figures, Nani does a brilliant argument and wonderful presentation and makes Sampath Iyengar emotional and lose the battle

Nani goes with his ‘Forum of Free Enterprise’- a lecture in 1958.  He comes up with wonderful statistics, proves as a great economist and insists that Democracy is indeed a boon and knowledge is power, and it is the combination of democracy and knowledge that the Nation can reach to greater heights.  Nani proclaims that we India are not Underdeveloped Country but ruled by the underdeveloped minds

At this stage, Nani meets JRD Tata after 45 years after the first letter that he wrote and kept it with confidence as his brother said, that one day he will meet the great man.  With this Nani, meets Mohana Kumaramangalam and expresses his understanding Constitution and later started TCS with Nani’s idea.   He gets to meet Smt. Indira Gandhi, then Prime Minister of India as an expert in Indian Constitution

Nani advocates capitalistic way of economy.  And many times, ends up in logger heads with Indira Gandhi.   Indira government appoints Nani as Attorney General of India which he refuses to accept after deep introspection.  His respect to his profession and knowledge revered by the entire legal fraternity.

He keeps telling his wife, that when ever sleeps disturbs, there is a great reason for mistakes.   He proudly declares that you don’t need to be born Hindu, to be a Hindu.   The great epic case Rann of Kutch Vs Pakistan brings him closer to Indira Gandhi.   He politely declines Rajaji’s offer to join the party saying that he cannot do political justice as he cannot be Justified Political!

The landmark judgement of Goraknath Case on Land Reforms act where his counterpart was Mr. Pai and the 11^-bench jury is argued, and Nani calls for sudo-socialism and insists that socialism should be for passing money from rich to poor.   He goes on for prospective overruling so that the judgement effects the cases going forward. 

He roars that Government is subordinate to Constitution.  Just because you are elected, you cannot select laws that favour you.    Nationalization of Banks by Indira Gandhi Government was strongly condemned by Nani and he made his brother Behram move the petition against the government when one individual whose share holding got effected and none of the banks came forward to fight against this government move.  

Nani emphasised that Government should govern and not to do business against the power-driven policies and should not forget people welfare and Constitution.   Power should not be misused.  Freedom to do business should be the fundamental right.  Compensation should be to make good enough for the loss if the loss is in the National Interest.  Government’s meaningless takeovers will kill efficiency.  With this case and R.C. Cooper Law, Nani proved that the strength of the Constitution is to protect even the individual right  

Nani is also known for his philanthropy and was instrumental in establishment of Bhartiya Vidhya Bhawan in Chennai.   Currently, he meets Gwalior King Madhav Rao Scindia and emphasize on laws are to protect people and governments are to govern people.

One of the most important and landmark cases handled by Nani which remains as the landmark judgement is the Keshavanandha Bharathi Vs Union of India (Kerala High court) on the Kerala Land Reforms bill.  He roars again saying that we should not allow government to lay hands on private property, speech, writing and people’s behaviour and makes this a fundamental rights issue.   He insists in the court that Constitution is superior to the Government. 

Nani Palkhivala was and is regarded even today as the Crown Jewel of Law, even if it means being the enemy to the ruling government.  Politics create their own enemies.   Despite of his ideological differences with Indira Gandhi, he takes up the case to support her and reaches out to V.R. Krishna Iyer – moving with the vacation judge on the Indian Elections case in Allahabad Court. 

He smiles and tells that the downfall starts when one behaves arrogant because of being powerful, successful and super pridefully arrogant.   Despite the Interim Relief to Indira Gandhi in the election’s cases, President Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed declares emergency and Nani pleads Indira to stop this

‘Sarvadikaram Thalai Thukina Thalaigal Urulum’

Constitution is immortal whereas lawyers and politicians are not.  No life immunity should be given to the politicians who may take advantage of the same.  Nani fights against the reopening of the Keshavanda Bharathi case.   Indira feels that arresting Nani or someone like Lawyer Cho Ramaswamy should not be done as they are very honest, self-less and very special.   Moreover, she feels that she should not get them arrested and make them big

Nani is known to fight for Indian people and Indian Constitution till the end of his life.  He was keen to preserve constitution till last breadth.  He keeps questioning if the Democracy is a boon or a bane?     On insisting and fasting treat from Sri Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Nani accepts to be the US Ambassador and goes on to develop Indo- US ties.   During this period, the iconic Nuclear Energy Accommodation agreements happen strengthening the Indo-US relations. 

Nani is also known to have supported Dr Badrinath in bringing up Shankar Netralaya in Chennai.  Nani applauds Dr Manmohan Singh as the best Finance Minister and calls him the Architect of Modern India. 

Despite his differences he had with Indira Gandhi, Nani goes heart-broken on her assassination.   He regards her as the powerful Prime Minister and Iron Lady of India.  

Nani Palkhivala thus becomes the God’s gift to the country, crown jewel of the legal fraternity and is amongst the top 10 lawyers in the world even today

A big thank you to Dummies Drama for bringing this amazing docu-drama and Nani Palkhivala live to all of us and cherish his great memory.    May DD be blessed with more and more powerful stories and keep their theatre journey ever shining!  God bless.

And now you can find me and Raghu in the engrossed audience:-)

Long live the legacy of Nani Palkhivala…economist, advocate and India’s most favourite citizen.  Jai Hind!