Address by Prof. (Dr.) Sarfaraz Ahmed Khan,  First Batch LL.M. Alumnus and Current Faculty, WBNUJS, On the Occasion of NUJS Foundation Day (Silver Jubilee), 3rd August 2025

 

1.     Respected Hon’ble Mr. Anindya Mitra, Former Advocate General, Government of West Bengal;

2.     Hon’ble Prof. (Dr.) N. K. Chakrabarti, our beloved Vice-Chancellor;

3.     Mr. D. Kanangna, Former Accounts Officer, WBNUJS and Former Registrar, MNLU Mumbai;

4.     Prof. (Dr.) Anirban Mazumdar, one of the founding faculty members of this University;

5.     Mr. Avinash Desai, Senior Advocate, High Court of Telangana, and a distinguished alumnus we are all proud of;

6.     Mr. Raja Chakraborty, our Registrar,

7.     Esteemed guests, fellow alumni, colleagues, students, and friends—

 

A very good afternoon to all of you.

 

It is a moment of immense pride and deep personal emotion for me to speak before you today—not only as a Professor at this esteemed institution but also as a proud member of the very first batch of LL.M. students at NUJS. It has been my honour to spend a quarter of a century growing with and contributing to this remarkable NUJS family.

 

Looking back, it feels like yesterday when we entered this institution with dreams in our hearts and questions in our minds. We were part of an ambitious experiment—a bold vision that would eventually transform the legal landscape of this country. We were pioneers. And NUJS, even in its infancy, radiated excellence. There was a spark, a promise that we sensed and nurtured together.

 

And how could it have been otherwise? The foundation of NUJS was laid by none other than the father of modern legal education in India—Prof. (Dr.) N. R. Madhava Menon, a Padma Shri and Padma Bhushan awardee. He executed the vision of the then Chief Minister of West Bengal, Shri Jyoti Basu, one of India’s most respected political leaders. He took this mission far beyond what even Shri Jyoti Basu might have envisioned. With such visionaries at the helm, NUJS was destined to be a leading law school—and today, we proudly stand among the top institutions in the country.

 

Now, as we celebrate 25 glorious years, I can say with complete conviction: whatever I am today, I owe it to NUJS. This university has not only enriched my knowledge but also given me purpose, direction, and the confidence to dream and lead. And I believe the same is true for all our alumni.

 

As a faculty member, I see that same energy and potential in our students today. They are bold, questioning, and determined to raise the bar. I feel deeply privileged to contribute to shaping their journey.

 

The kind of academic freedom and innovation we practice at NUJS is truly unparalleled. Allow me to share a few examples that I personally experienced:

 

1. In July 2001, when President Pervez Musharraf was scheduled to meet Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Prof. Menon encouraged our ADR faculty, Ms. Soma Roy Chowdhury, to conduct a mock mediation between the two leaders. I played the role of Musharraf, and my friend Jacob P. Alex played Vajpayee. Amazingly, the outcome of our mock mediation almost mirrored the real Agra Summit that followed. This was 2001—years before mediation became as mainstream as it is today. That was Menon Sir’s visionary pedagogy in action.

 

2. In March 2011, within just three days of the landmark Aruna Shanbaug judgment, we hosted a panel discussion on the case. I had the honour of speaking alongside the late Shri Protik Prakash Banerjee, who later became a judge of the Calcutta High Court. It was a lively and timely academic exchange.

 

3. Just yesterday, on August 2nd, 2025, the NUJS ILSA Chapter organized a panel discussion titled "US Strike on Iran: Voices from International Law." At a time when academic discourse on global conflicts is often avoided, especially in light of clampdowns on pro-Palestine demonstrations, our students demonstrated courage and scholarly integrity.

These examples show how freedom of thought and innovation in teaching are not just ideals but lived realities at NUJS.

 

In these 25 years, our university has grown into a global brand. Our alumni are everywhere—judges, senior advocates, bureaucrats, academics, entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, international civil servants—spreading the NUJS spirit across continents. A spirit that is fearless, ethical, and committed to excellence.

 

But more than all the accolades, NUJS is a family. A place where bonds are formed, values are instilled, and dreams are shaped.

 

Let us take this Silver Jubilee not just as a celebration of the past, but as a commitment to the future. Let us aim higher, think bigger, and continue to serve the cause of justice and society.

 

To our current students: You are part of a legacy built with love, hard work, and a pursuit of justice. Carry it forward with pride and purpose.

 

To my fellow alumni: Let’s stay connected. Let’s give back—through mentorship, collaboration, and our continued excellence.

 

To my colleagues and mentors: Thank you for keeping this torch burning. Let me end by recalling the words of Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, who once observed in Bar Council of Maharashtra vs. M. V. Dabholkar:

“Law is not a trade, not briefs, not merchandise—but a way of life.”

 

NUJS has taught us to live this way of life—and for that, we remain forever grateful.

Happy Foundation Day. Long live NUJS. Thank you.