Off the bench

It is customary that every book has a preface or prolegomenon telling the reader something about the pages that follow, a brief vignette of the author and his faith and a few luminous lines in justification of the publication. For this reason, the Universal-a fine young Manish Arora who is selective, thoughtful and bringing to the Indian reader foreign books of great value-richly contributes to the treasury of legal literature. He suggested to me that I do pen a preface to a collection of my writings which he propose to print and publish. The touch of affection behind this suggestion made a sentimental appeal and so I consented. Frankly, I am aware how unworthy I am of the honour of my casual writings being presented by a prestigious publisher, to the public, especially because the random essays do not make an ensemble or group constituting an organic whole nor a collage of attractive prose fragments glued together. The writer-poor me at am not flattered and request be dismissed as a maverick, anti-establishment individualist, with no claim to fame, no title to distinction, no high office as incumbent and no Party politics or other organization to back or boost this man near oblivion, having crossed four score and five in life.