A legendary scholar, Noorani was someone wrote about the burning issues involving India like the RSS, Kashmir issue and India's partition.
Published Aug 29, 2024 | 9:49 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 29, 2024 | 9:49 PM
AG Noorani (@sanjayuvacha)
Well-known scholar, prolific writer, political commentator and legal luminary AG Noorani died at his residence in Mumbai on Thursday, 29 August at the age of 94. The man who gave “intellectual source material and scholarship” to the country on significant matters concerning India like RSS, the Kashmir issue and India’s partition is no more.
This is what senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde said while speaking to South First.
Born Abdul Ghafoor Majeed Noorani in Mumbai on 16 September, 1930, his death was widely mourned with leaders like CPI(M) leader MA Baby, AIMIM founder and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi, senior lawyer Sanjay Hegde and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister Omar Abdullah.
Noorani obtained his law degree from the Government Law College, Mumbai, and his legal career was illustrious, with a practice that spanned the Supreme Court and the Bombay High Court. He has authored a number of books, including ‘The Kashmir Dispute 1947-2012’, ‘Article 370: A constitutional history of Jammu and Kashmir’ and ‘The Destruction of Hyderabad’, besides being a regular contributor as a columnist in various national and regional newspapers.
Noorani also authored the biographies of former President Dr Zakir Husain and Badruddin Tyabji, the first Indian to practise as a barrister of the High Court of Mumbai during British rule.
A regular visitor to Kashmir, Noorani defended National Conference founder Sheikh Mohammad Abdullah during his long period of detention and also appeared in the Bombay High Court for former Tamil Nadu chief minister Karunanidhi against the DMK leader’s main political rival and late AIADMK supremo J Jayalalithaa.
Highly respected for his expertise on constitutional matters, Noorani’s works also include extensive writing on matters pertaining to Indian Muslims, besides presenting numerous papers at seminars to educate audiences across the country about various issues. The news of his death was widely condoled by the people across the country.
Talking to South First about Noorani’s death, CPI(M) leader MA Baby said that the legendary lawyer’s demise is a significant loss to the country. “In this era, when India is grappling with threats from the RSS, Noorani’s departure is a significant loss. He passed away after giving the the most a human can contribute to the society. His book, The RSS: A Menace to India, which exposes the fake campaigns of Hindutva, will forever stand as a powerful testament, providing immense strength to the secular fabric of our nation,” he said.
Sanjay Hegde recalled an interesting story from the eminent person’s past that involving late Supreme Court lawyer and senior Congress leader Murlidhar Bhandare. He told South First, “Both Murali Bhandare and Noorani were contemporaries who worked at the Bombay High Court at the same time. Once, during an altercation, Noorani allegedly told his late colleague that he had been insulted by him,”
In response, Muralidhar apparently got into a physical altercation with Noorani saying, “Let me add injury to the insult,” the senior lawyer shared with us.
“Sorry to hear about the demise of AG Noorani Sb earlier today. Noorani Sb was a man of letters, an accomplished lawyer, a scholar & a political commentator. He wrote extensively on matters of law and on subjects like Kashmir, RSS and the constitution. May Allah grant him the highest place in Jannat,” Omar Abdullah wrote on X.
Sorry to hear about the demise of A G Noorani Sb earlier today. Noorani Sb was a man of letters, an accomplished lawyer, a scholar & a political commentator. He wrote extensively on matters of law and on subjects like Kashmir, RSS and the constitution. May Allah grant him highest…
— Omar Abdullah (@OmarAbdullah) August 29, 2024
AIMIM president and Lok Sabha MP Asaduddin Owaisi took to X to condole Noorani’s demise and said that he had learnt a great deal from the former Supreme Court lawyer.
AG Noorani, a giant among scholars has passed away. I learnt a great deal from him, from the constitution, to Kashmir, to China & even the art of appreciating good food. May Allah grant him maghfirah.
— Asaduddin Owaisi (@asadowaisi) August 29, 2024
(Edited by Neena with inputs from Sreelakshmi and Nolan Pinto)
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