A life of
independent conviction.

From Sindh to the Supreme Court

Born on 14 September 1923 in Shikarpur, Sindh, Ram Jethmalani qualified in law while still in his teens. The upheaval of Partition brought him to India, where he rebuilt his practice in Bombay.

Over the decades, he became one of India’s best-known advocates. His courtroom career placed him at the centre of cases that commanded national attention. He defended the principle that an unpopular accused was entitled to representation, a position he explained repeatedly in his public interviews.

A public life beyond the Bar

Jethmalani served in both houses of Parliament and held the offices of Union Minister of Law and Justice and Union Minister of Urban Development. He also led the Bar Council of India and the Supreme Court Bar Association.

His views were often outspoken and his political associations changed over time. Independence of judgment remained a defining part of his public identity. As a teacher and author, he brought the same appetite for argument to generations of students and readers.

An enduring presence

He announced his retirement from legal practice in 2017 and died in New Delhi on 8 September 2019, six days before his 96th birthday. His recorded conversations offer a lasting encounter with the wit, candour and conviction of the man himself.

The Memorial Lecture Series carries his name into new discussions about law, democracy and public responsibility.