NEW DELHI: India’s renow­ned public intellectual Abdul Ghafoor Noorani died in Mumbai on Thursday after a long battle with complications from a fall. He was 94.

The renowned lawyer, constitutional expert, and prolific author made indelible contributions to legal scholarship and political discourse in India for over six decades.

Widely respected for his deep analysis of constitutio­nal and human rights issues, Mr Noorani would be particularly missed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir for whom he spoke relentlessly in books and highly quoted articles.

But his mercurial temp­e­rament found friends and ad­­mirers mostly tip-toeing aro­und his easily ruffled moods. He famously turned down an invitation to speak at the Kashmir University in Srina­gar because the vice chancellor wore shoes without socks.

In a condolence message from Srinagar, Mirwaiz Umar Farooq said: “Noorani sahab was a true friend and supporter of the people of J&K and had a deep and critical understanding of the Kashmir issue… In his death Kashmir has lost a great advocate of its aspirations.”

Born in Bombay (now Mumbai) in 1930, Mr Noorani began his career as a lawyer in the Bombay High Court in 1953. Though he practised law, Mr Noorani devoted much of his time to writing on legal, political, and historical topics. His sharp intellect and deep knowledge of constitutional matters made him a sought-after commentator on Indian politics and jurisprudence.

Prolific author was known for his strong advocacy of secularism and respected for deep analysis on human rights issues

A regular contributor to leading publications like the Economic & Political Weekly, The Hindustan Times, and The Statesman, Mr Noorani’s association with The Frontline magazine, which began in the 1980s, brought his incisive writing to a wide audience. His column “Constitutional Questions” ran for over three decades and was known for its meticulous research and balanced analysis of complex legal issues.

As an author, Mr Noorani penned over a dozen books on various aspects of Indian constitutional law, politics, and history. Some of his notable works include The Kashmir Question (1964), Ministers’ Misconduct (1973), Constitu­tional Questions and Citizens’ Rights (2006), and The RSS: A Menace to India (2019).

“His writings often took a critical look at government overreach and erosion of democratic norms,” The Frontline said in a tribute.

Mr Noorani was known for his strong advocacy of civil liberties and secularism. He was a vocal critic of laws that he believed infringed on fundamental rights, such as preventive detention laws and restrictions on freedom of expression. His legal expertise made him a respected voice in debates on judicial reforms and accountability.

Though he never held any official position, Mr Noorani’s opinions carried weight in legal and political circles. He was often consulted on constitutional matters and his writings were cited in academic works and even the Supreme Court judgements.

Ghafoor Bhai, as he was addressed by close friends, has left behind a rich legacy of legal scholarship and political commentary. He is rem­embered as an intellectual who upheld the principles of democracy and constitutionalism throughout his long and distinguished career.

While revered in progressive and liberal circles, Mr Noorani was not without his critics. Some felt his views were too idealistic or out of step with changing political realities. Nonetheless, his commitment to constitutional values and rigorous analysis earned him respect across the political spectrum.

A great chronicler in the old-fashioned way of keeping fraying and yellowing news clippings and stapled pages for citing, he quoted Jawaharlal Nehru’s less-discussed views on the Kashmir dispute in the 2019 article.

“It is an international problem. It would be an international problem anyhow if it concerned any other nation besides India and it does. It became further an international problem because a large number of other countries also took interest and gave advice…. We do not want to win people against their will and with the help of armed forces, and if the people of Jammu and Kashmir State so wish it, to part company from us, they can go their way and we shall go our way. We want no forced marriages, no forced unions like this….

“But whether it is a pain and a torment, if the people of Kashmir want to go out, let them go because we will not keep them against their will however painful it may be to us. That is the policy that India will pursue and because India will pursue that policy people will not leave her, people will cleave to her and come to her. Because the strongest bonds that bind will not be the bonds of your armies or even of your Con­stitution to which so much reference has been made, but bonds which are stronger than the Constitution and laws and armies — bonds that bind thr­ough love and affection and understanding of various peoples.”

It’s extremely unlikely that Mr Noorani was quoting Mr Nehru without endorsing the view substantially if not entirely.

Published in Dawn, August 30th, 2024