‘Soli J Sorabjee Endowment Award And Scholarship’ Instituted At JGLS By Sr. Adv. Satvik Varma
On 21st September, 2021, the Jindal Global Law School (JGLS) announced the establishment of the ‘Soli J Sorabjee Endowment Award & Scholarship’, honouring the memory of the renowned jurist and former Attorney General of India. The Award and Scholarship, which will be offered for 20 years, has been instituted through the munificence of Senior Advocate, Satvik Varma. It will be conferred annually upon a deserving student in the field of Human Rights Law and Theory, offered as part of the undergraduate programme at the JGLS. Carrying forward Soli Sorabjee’s commitment to Human Rights, the award will be declared every year, on his birth anniversary, 9th of March.
“Mr. Sorabjee’s passing was a huge personal loss. Over the years, I had developed a very close personal relationship with him, which afforded an insight into the man as a lawyer and also his personal side. He was generous, affectionate, caring, compassionate and always ready to extend a helping hand. His values and passion have deeply inspired and influenced me. And his loss has left the legal community in India and abroad with a void. We felt the best way to continue his deep commitment to Human Rights was by instituting an extended Scholarship and Award in his memory,” said Sr. Adv. Satvik Varma.
Championing the Right to Freedom of Speech and Expression, Soli Sorabjee defended the same in many landmark cases, before the Supreme Court of India. As per Sorabjee, while Human Rights were the conscience of the Constitution, an independent judiciary was its conscience-keeper. Therefore, the Scholarship and Award stands reminiscent of Sorabjee’s achievements and his contributions to Human Rights advocacy in all its forms.
Announcing the Award, Founding Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University, Prof. Dr. C Raj Kumar said, “The purpose of the scholarship is to promote academic excellence, research, integrity and diversity by recognizing the outstanding academic achievement of a student in course on human rights. We are grateful to Mr. Satvik Varma for partnering with OP Jindal Global University for instituting this award in the name of Mr. Soli J Sorabjee.”
Soli Sorabjee’s family welcomed the initiative and said that it was a great way to remember and celebrate him and perpetuate his memory. The family shared a message they wished to convey to the students at JGLS – ‘Tread Ye the Path of Justice and Equity in All Things’ – a quote from the Kitáb-i-Aqdas, the central book of the Baháʼí Faith, which deeply signifies the Baháʼí perspectives of justice.
