I just concluded reading "Before Memory Fades", the autobiography of eminent lawyer Fali Nariman. It is certainly recommended reading not just for people involved or interested in the legal system but anyone keen on a glimpse of the country's political history post independence through the lens of a jurist. For someone relatively ignorant of nuances of law like yours truly, this book serves as a useful starting point and has been remarkably enlightening.
What is striking though is that despite the author being someone as erudite and acclaimedly articulate as Nariman, the writing is in refreshingly comprehensible English (the odd usage of words like "ratiocination" notwithstanding). I guess there lies the test of a good writer when it comes to telling a story or conveying a powerful message. Too often many of us succumb to the temptation of hiding behind vocabulary to conceal a weak (or absent) point of view. I learnt it the hard way a few weeks ago when an article I was attempting to write for a newsmagazine was summarily dismissed by the editor since it just did not "talk to the reader".
There is an irritating flip side too. For a man known for his sharp legal wizardry but certainly not for modesty, Nariman resorts to needless self-deprecation. His inverse "humility" in the context of several other legal luminaries almost insults the intelligence of the reader. Also, while he has mildly criticized a few judges, he has ensured most of them are too far gone in history to be relevant any longer. A little more contemporary candour would have been welcome.
While reiterating my reccomendation for this important autobiography, I cant help commenting that Mr Nariman could have chosen a slightly more ingenious title (there are at least half a dozen similar works with an identical title).
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