Mr Sorabjee’s cameras: A 13-year-old’s tribute

I met Mr. Soli Sorabjee for first time was in December 2015 in Delhi. I was only 7 years old. I was told that he was India’s greatest lawyer. I was obviously very nervous. Despite that, I wanted to meet him. I felt a deep sense of gratitude for what he had done for us and thank him. He had successfully argued for my mother and me to travel to our country Thailand for my vacation.

I had been forever wanting to visit Bangkok where my grandparents lived and sit in the serenity of their house. My mother struggled for 3 long years to get me permission from the court. Every time the courts refused permission I used to silently cry for days. So when my mother broke the news that Mr. Sorabjee has got us the permission to go to Bangkok I remember screaming with joy. When we landed in Bangkok I could smell and breathe freedom. Ever since, I have been eternally grateful for the role Mr. Sorabjee played to get me there. It was the first time I vividly remember being home, that moment the happiest I had ever felt in a long time. So, we went to Mr. Sorabjee’s house at Neeti Bagh. It was a nice house. In the front was a beautiful manicured lawn glistening in the winter sun. The house radiated both warmth and serenity. A staircase led us to his office. It had large windows which brightly lit the room.

Mr. Sorabjee was seated on his desk and, as soon as I entered, he gave me a very welcoming smile. He called me over to his side of the table and shook my hand. I could feel the warmth and affection in his handshake. I sat across, in front of his table and he asked what I would like to eat and drink. I was carried away. I always wonder how such an important person could take the time and be so kind and so nice to a small child like me. He was glad that after 3 long years I could go and meet my grandparents. He got me some nice biscuits.

As we were leaving he reassuringly told me “don’t worry beta everything will be alright”. I can never forget those words. I guess he sensed my concern and worry, and comforted me immediately.

In 2018. My mother and I had to leave Bombay because the police from Bhopal came in the middle of the night to our residence. In consternation we went to meet Mr Sorabjee at Delhi. He was unable to come for the hearing but assured that the

Supreme Court will protect us. As I said when Mr. Sorabjee spoke I always found him reassuring. He was right. The Supreme Court gave us protection. We had, on a couple of occasions, gone to Mr. Sorabjee’s residence at Napeansea Road. It is a very beautiful part of Mumbai. It was the finest house I had ever seen.

His living room had beautiful old furniture. The walls were lined with ornately chiselled book selves. It had lots of books on many different subjects. On the walls, hung beautifully framed old maps. At the back of Mr. Sorabjee’s table was a huge window allowing the light to enter the room. The room reflected the very character of Mr. Sorabjee himself – it was warm, friendly and made in great taste.

I was always fascinated by the adjacent living room. It had the most interesting collection of cameras down the ages, of different shapes and sizes neatly kept in glass shelves. Some of them, as I found out were from the 1950s and 60s We always took some sweets for him. He ate them with great relish. We did not want him to eat too many because he was supposed to be diabetic. But I liked that he enjoyed them. Soli uncle never forgot to order the biscuits and the soft drinks for me. And when we left he would give me a warm hand shake, a hug and always say something nice to me.

18th of January 2021 is a day I will never ever forget. The Supreme Court of India allowed me to travel to my country Thailand and study there. It was a thrilling moment. I was so excited and that I were screaming and jumping with joy. I could not get over the thought of going back to my country, to live the normal life of an ordinary schoolboy. On my incessant pleading, my mother hurriedly organised our travel to Thailand to catch the Vande Bharath flight from Delhi. We were caught up in many issues with the embassy and immigration. In this melee we could not meet Mr. Sorabjee.

When I landed on 25 January 2021 in Bangkok, my wish of over 9 years was fulfilled. I remembered Mr. Sorabjee assuring me in the winter of 2015 that everything will work out. We called and thanked Mr. Soli Sorabjee and all the lawyers who helped us in our struggle to reach our country.

We suddenly got this news that Mr. Soli Sorabjee has left us. It was a shock. The news channels were full of images and clippings of Mr. Sorabjee. I felt my eyes were moist. I had lost a very good friend. He was there for us all through our difficult years. I had always believed that we will be back in India and meet Mr. Sorabjee in his house at Delhi or Napeansea Road to personally thank him. I still feel the tinge of sadness that that I could not meet him before I left for Bangkok.

All I have now are these beautiful photographs of me with Mr. Sorabjee, smiling, captured in my phone. Unlike the cameras in Mr. Sorabjee’s living room, my phone will remain with me forever along with my most beautiful memories of my friend and India’s greatest human rights lawyer.