The Editorial Board of Mero Tribune publishes original, exclusive, and high-quality opinion articles and commentaries. Our mission is to offer people innovative ideas and opinions from the world’s foremost thinkers and leaders.
Insiyah Vahanvaty is an independent Indian journalist, commentator, and scholar with an interest in the subjects of minority rights, media studies, hate politics, gender and caste-based violence as well as the critical examination of institutionalised human rights violations, particularly in religious and racial contexts. Her columns have appeared in Indian Express, Al Jazeera, India Today, Asian Age, Deccan Chronicle, Asia Democracy Network, and The Quint amongst others. Her work has also been quoted by Reuters.
She is the author of The Fearless Judge, a biography of her grandfather and the 26th Chief Justice of India, Justice Aziz Mushabber Ahmadi. Insiyah holds a Master’s Degree from King’s College London in Global Affairs. She also serves as a Trustee of The Ahmadi Foundation.
How did you know you were ready to write your latest book?
Everything happened quite naturally. Shortly after my grandfather passed away in 2023, I began receiving several inquiries from publishers asking if there would be a book about Chief Justice Ahmadi—and if I had ever considered writing one. At the time, I told them I would think about it. I knew that my grandfather had always intended to write his autobiography. He often used to tell us that he would do this one day, and he had even planned to include some of his writings, which he had meticulously categorized on his computer. Unfortunately, he didn’t get the chance to do this.
I therefore made the decision to examine his computer more closely in an attempt to decipher some of his thoughts. Reading his own thoughts—his opinions on significant cases, political developments, and much more—was an intriguing experience.
As I read on, I was reminded of a lot of things, including his scathing, perceptive perspective on the world and his pragmatic attitude to even the most challenging issues—qualities that had shaped him into the judge he was. But most importantly, the principles and values he had lived his life by. And I decided that his story was too important to remain untold- it’s a legacy that belongs not just to my family – but to the nation – and therefore must be preserved.
I also feel that many of the principles he stood for, the ideals he dedicated his life to, seem to be fading in what we now call New India – which is something I feel very sad about. It’s important to remind people – especially younger people – that it wasn’t always like this. The idea of India that intellectual giants like my grandfather fought their whole life to protect was a very different India from the one we live in now. And it doesn’t always have to be this way. There are other ways to think of the future of India. So that’s how this book came to be.
What were the most challenging sections?
Well, it was a very intense and emotional process—something I can honestly say I completely underestimated. You see, to me, he was simply my ‘nana jaan.’ I have been raised in his home, watching him at every step, having long conversations, arguments, discussing everything from politics to culture, religion to art, everything. So I felt that the only thing I would need to add to my personal narrative were his judgments. But obviously, this was a very naïve way of thinking – which I realised very quickly.
As I went deeper into the process, I discovered just how much more there was to him—so many aspects of his personality and life that I hadn’t fully grasped. It was through my conversations with other judges, lawyers, old secretaries, and friends that I began to understand him in ways I hadn’t before – the many facets of his character, his struggles, and his vision. It added so much depth to my understanding of who he was—not just as a judge, but as a man.
But the most important discovery, I realized, was that while I knew my grandfather intimately, I didn’t truly know the jurist and legal statesman—Justice Ahmadi—who is still revered in the legal world today. And so, this book became a journey of discovery for me. And it helped me add context to many of the events I remember as a child but was now able to understand in context of my grandfather’s role – whether Babri masjid, Mandal Commission, the Hazratbal siege in Kashmir or even General Vaidya’s assassination – all cases my grandfather had presided over.
The biggest challenge, I have to say, was not having my grandfather around to ask questions while writing. It felt like a tremendous loss, as I couldn’t turn to him for clarity on so many aspects of his life and career. My personal limits presented another significant obstacle. Since I don’t have a background in law, I had a lot to learn and comprehend before I could write about it. Luckily, I was able to speak with my mother and uncle on the phone every other day, asking them questions. Once I had grasped the legal nuances, I also had to contextualize these rulings within the political landscape of the time.
Is the reader present for you as you write?
Yes, at all times. I was very clear from the outset that I didn’t want this book to be something only lawyers and judges could understand. My goal was to write it in a way that the general public could easily grasp. After all, many of the events recounted in the book took place during our lifetimes – and we remember them well.
That’s why I’ve been careful not to make the book too dense. While the judicial cases are certainly important, the socio-political context of the time is just as crucial. I thought itessential to provide a broader picture of the times in which my grandfather lived and shaped. The idea is to help readers connect the dots between the judicial decisions and the larger societal and political forces at play.
And of course, it was also important to reveal the mind of the man behind the robe – his experiences, thoughts, childhood events – after all, The Fearless Judge is, first and foremost,a biography.
What are you currently working on?
As I continue to work as an independent journalist, critic, and academic in India, I am currently organizing my next major project. In addition, I’m on book tours for The Fearless Judge right now, which has been an amazing experience. Interacting with audiences and talking about Justice Ahmadi’s legacy and the topics covered in the book have been fantastic.I am also actively involved with the work of the Ahmadi Foundation. One of the key initiatives we launched last year is the Justice Ahmadi Initiative on Rule of Law, Democracy and Social Justice at NLSUI Bangalore.
What book are you reading?
At the moment I’m really enjoying Avik Chanda’s book Dara Shukoh. It’s not a new book, but to me, medieval Indian history is like comfort food for the mind. I tend to turn to this genre when I need something stimulating, yet familiar. The way it weaves together politics, culture, and religion is endlessly fascinating.
The Tribune is committed to publishing a diversity of opinions. We’d like to hear from you. Send your articles to our email: opinion@merotribune.com.
Follow the Mero Tribune on Facebook and Twitter.
Advertisement
