A Jazz-Loving Barrister Who Made the Constitution Sing
In the pages of India’s legal history, some names are written in ink. Others — like Soli Jehangir Sorabjee — are carved into the soul of the Constitution itself.
He didn’t fight for attention.
He fought for freedom.
He didn’t chase titles.
He earned respect.
He didn’t just practice law.
He practiced courage — day after day, case after case, in defense of the voiceless.
In a country that has faced repeated threats to civil liberties, Soli Sorabjee was a guardian of press freedom, a warrior for human rights, and a teacher of legal truth. His legacy is not just found in law reports, but in the breathing fabric of Indian democracy.
The Child Who Would One Day Defend India’s Soul
Born on March 9, 1930, in a humble Parsi family in Bombay, young Soli was no ordinary child.
He was:
Deeply curious
Intensely observant
Spiritually inclined
Passionate about jazz music (especially Miles Davis and Duke Ellington)
He found rhythm not only in music but in the language of law. As he grew, so did his fascination for justice, liberty, and constitutional reasoning.
He graduated from Government Law College, Mumbai — the same iconic institution that gave India its finest legal thinkers.
A Lawyer of Character Before Titles
In 1953, he enrolled at the Bombay High Court. By 1971, he had already become a Senior Advocate of the Supreme Court of India, thanks to his powerful intellect, clarity of thought, and integrity.
But Sorabjee’s greatness was never about rank — it was about refusal to compromise.
“A lawyer’s greatest strength is not in their voice — but in the moral force behind it.”
— Soli Sorabjee
Defender of the Constitution — Not the Government
He was appointed Solicitor General of India in 1977 and then served as the Attorney General of India twice — from 1989–90 and 1998–2004.
But Soli Sorabjee never became a government puppet. He often disagreed publicly with those in power when they undermined fundamental rights.
He believed in being loyal to the Constitution, not to the chair.
Whether it was press freedom, minority protection, or judicial independence, Sorabjee stood fearlessly, earning the nickname:
“The Soul of the Constitution.”
Landmark Cases That Defined India — and Him
Let’s explore the battles that made Sorabjee a legend in law and liberty.
1. Indian Express Newspapers v. Union of India (1985)
Issue: Government’s taxation policies were suffocating press freedom.
Sorabjee’s role: Argued that freedom of speech includes press freedom and economic freedom to operate without fear.
Outcome: Strengthened Article 19(1)(a) — a milestone for Indian journalism.
“A free press is not a luxury. It’s a lifeline of democracy.” — Sorabjee
2. S. R. Bommai v. Union of India (1994)
Issue: Misuse of President’s Rule (Article 356) to dismiss state governments.
Sorabjee’s stand: Fought for federal balance and state autonomy.
Impact: The verdict created a constitutional shield against political misuse of emergency powers.
3. PUCL v. Union of India (2003)
Issue: Illegal telephone tapping and mass surveillance.
His contribution: Argued for the right to privacy and the need for procedural safeguards.
Impact: The Supreme Court ruled that privacy is part of Article 21 — long before the 2017 landmark judgment.
The Global Human Rights Warrior
Beyond India, Soli Sorabjee was India’s moral ambassador to the world.
Key roles:
Member of the UN Human Rights Commission
UN Special Rapporteur for Nigeria during a brutal dictatorship
Member of International Court of Arbitration
Represented India in international law conferences
He reminded the world that human rights were not a western idea — but a human duty.
“Injustice anywhere should disturb us everywhere.” — Sorabjee
The Thinker, Writer, and Legal Philosopher
His mind was as poetic as it was legal.
Books & writings:
Law and Justice
The Laws of Press Censorship in India
Editor of Tagore and the Constitution — linking Indian tradition with constitutional modernity
He also contributed to editorials and legal journals, shaping public thought with words as sharp as cross-examinations — yet full of wisdom.
Soli Sorabjee, the Jazz Man
He once said:
“Jazz is like the Constitution. Structured, but allows room for interpretation and improvisation.”
Music was his escape.
He played the saxophone.
He collected jazz records.
And he found liberty not only in courtrooms but in melodies.
This blend of art and law, of discipline and creativity, made Sorabjee one of the most unique minds in Indian law.
The Mentor and the Gentleman
Soli Sorabjee mentored dozens of young lawyers.
He never shouted in court.
He never humiliated juniors.
He believed in teaching by example, not intimidation.
His ethics were pure. His humor, dry.
His presence — unforgettable.
“Even when he disagreed with you, you felt respected.” — A junior lawyer once said.
What Young Lawyers Must Learn From Him
| Value | Lesson |
|---|---|
| Speak for the silenced | Rights are not gifts. They are shields. |
| Read everything | Literature, history, philosophy = better arguments. |
| Write regularly | Writing shapes your clarity and credibility. |
| Have a passion beyond law | It keeps your soul alive. |
| Question authority when it bends the law | Loyalty to Constitution > loyalty to party |
Farewell to a Legend
Soli Sorabjee passed away on April 30, 2021, at the age of 91, due to COVID-19.
The nation didn’t just lose a lawyer.
We lost a moral compass, a friend of freedom, and a professor of justice.
He left behind:
A Constitution more secure
A generation more aware
And a story that deserves to be read in every law school
Final Words: Why Soli Sorabjee Still Matters
In 2025, as India and the world wrestle with surveillance, fake news, authoritarian pressure, and legal manipulation, Sorabjee’s life echoes louder than ever.
“Freedom must be fought for, again and again, even after you’ve won it.”
— Soli Sorabjee
Epilogue — From The LexOcta Chronicle
At The LexOcta Chronicle, we write about lawyers who fought for the light — not the limelight.
Soli Sorabjee’s life proves that law can be more than profession — it can be a spiritual service.
If you feel afraid to speak up…
If you wonder whether one lawyer can change a system…
Just read about Soli.
And remember — he began like you.
