On 03-09-2025, OP Jindal Global University and Singhvi Endowment organised the Eleventh Dr. LM Singhvi Memorial Lecture on the topic ‘Human Dignity as the Soul of the Constitution: Judicial Reflections in the 21st Century’. The occasion was graced by Chief Justice of India B.R. Gavai as the Guest of Honour and Keynote Speaker, as well as Shri Om Birla, Speaker of Lok Sabha, as the Chief Guest.
Various other dignitaries were also present on the occasion, such as Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi, Member of Parliament and Senior Advocate, and Professor (Dr.) C. Raj Kumar, Vice Chancellor, O.P. Jindal Global University, among others.
The Dr. L.M. Singhvi Memorial Lecture Series was instituted to honour the life and legacy of one of India’s most distinguished jurists, diplomats, and public intellectuals. Each edition brings together eminent legal minds, public thinkers, and students to reflect on issues central to constitutional democracy, law, and justice.
An enlightening keynote speech was delivered by Justice Gavai, wherein he provided an elaborate yet succinct journey of the evolving jurisprudence on the concept of dignity in Indian Constitutional discourse.
Shri Om Birla began his address by acknowledging the inspiring life and contributions of Dr. L.M. Singhvi to the country as a politician, lawyer, jurist, author, and poet. He remarked that whichever field Dr. Singhvi set foot in, be it a Member of Parliament from Jodhpur or the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, his knowledge and scholarship contributed to not just India but also the world.
Regarding Dr. Singhvi’s role as the High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, Shri Birla underscored his enormous work towards establishing outreach with the Indian Diaspora as well as promoting the Indian journey of democracy, culture, knowledge, and trade.
Complimenting the larger-than-life personality of Dr. Singhvi, he remarked that such personalities inspired people to embark on new journeys and imbibe unique thoughts, as well as encouraged them to contribute to the nation.
Shri Birla further commended the pivotal role played by Justice Gavai in furthering the jurisprudence of human dignity through law and judicial decisions.
“Democratic India is a nation that has, since independence, always emphasized brotherhood and equality.”
Highlighting how our constitution maker, Dr. B.R. Ambedkar, propagated, championed, and imbued into the basic structure of the Constitution the concepts of human sympathy, equality, brotherhood, equal rights, justice for all, and the right to personhood. Dr. Ambedkar, as well as other constitution makers, paid special attention to human dignity, as seen from the constitutional debates.
In the 75 years of our democracy, he added, the parliament had heavily debated, discussed, and formulated laws on human dignity, privacy, freedom, and equality. However, the question of the hour was how to utilize our institutions and eradicate the legal or executive hurdles for dispensing speedy justice and guaranteeing human dignity to the people. He stated that, though many changes had taken place in this journey, such as altering British-made laws as per the Indian systems and institutions, there was a need for more comprehensive changes.
While addressing the luminaries in the audience, Shri Birla expressed his hope and belief that they were knowledgeable in their domains and would impart their invaluable suggestions and solutions to all three pillars of our democracy to aid this discourse and the changes arising therein.
“The Constitution is not our legal document; it is the living document that guides us.”
Thanking Dr. Abhishek Manu Singhvi for furthering this discourse, he hoped that the three institutions would receive contributions from the audience towards providing speedy justice, protection of human rights, and resolution of the difficulties faced by the people. He also expressed his gratitude towards Justice Gavai for illuminating the judicial decisions on this topic.
Lastly, he concluded by conveying his optimism that this lecture series would guide us and inspire new thoughts built on the groundwork laid down by Dr. L.M. Singhvi.
