Wikipedia

Girishbhai Patel

Girish Patel (5 December 1932 – 6 October 2018) was an Indian human rights lawyer, academic and constitutional expert.[1]

Girish Patel
Born
Girish Chhotalal Patel

5 December 1932
Nadiad, Gujarat, British India
Died6 October 2018(2018-10-06) (aged 85)
Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
NationalityIndian
EducationL.L.M.
Alma materHarvard University
OccupationAdvocate
OrganizationLok Adhikar Sangh
SpouseKusumben Patel
AwardsBhagirath Human Rights Award

Early life and education

edit

Patel studied at a municipality school, then completed L.L.B. in 1956 before earning L.L.M. at Harvard Law School in the United States.[2]

Career

edit

Patel practiced at International Court of Justice, then upon return to India served as principal of Maneklal Nanavati Law College in Ahmedabad, as member of Gujarat University Senate, and as member of the Gujarat State Law Commission.

Patel founded Lok Adhikar Sangh in 1977, and under its banner fought cases on behalf of Dalits, tribals, minorities, women, child workers, bonded labourers and farm workers.[3] He practiced at Gujarat High Court from 1975 for over 40 years. He provided pro bono service to most of his clients.[1][2][3][4]

Patel filed over 200 Public Interest Litigations (PILs).[1]

Patel specialised in jurisprudence and the philosophy of law. His mentees coined the term Girishprudence.[3]

Patel, along with M. C. Bhatt, provided legal assistance to Narmada Bachao Andolan and worked closely with Medha Patkar.[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17]

Patel was awarded Bhagirath Human Rights Award in 2002.[18]

Death and legacy

edit

Patel died at his home in Ahmedabad in 2018 due to age-related complications. His body was donated per his wishes. His death was received with sadness by civil society.[1][5][19][20][21][22][23][24][25][3][26] Girish Patel Smarnanjali Lecture Series has been instituted to honour his memory.[27][28][29][30][31] Dalit leader and Gujarat MLA Jignesh Mevani worked under the mentorship of Patel.[32]

References

edit
  1. ^ a b c d "Girish Patel, prominent human rights lawyer from Gujarat, dies at 85". The Indian Express. 2018-10-06. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  2. ^ a b "Tribute to Girish Patel, a Lawyer-Activist Who Helped Keep Society Humane". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  3. ^ a b c d "Jignesh Mevani's Tribute to Girish Patel, Custodian of Human Rights and Dignity". The Wire. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  4. ^ "Human rights lawyer, Girish Patel, dies at 85". The Indian Express. 2018-10-07. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  5. ^ a b IANS (2018-10-06). "Gujarat human rights lawyer Girish Patel passes away". Business Standard India. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  6. ^ Kothari, Urvish (2022-09-16). "Gujarat CM labeled Medha Patkar urban Naxal but Narmada Andolan never saw this cancel culture". ThePrint. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  7. ^ "Assault case accused let off: Medha Patkar". DNA India. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  8. ^ "Was India forced to reject World Bank aid?". www.downtoearth.org.in. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  9. ^ Jagadeesan, S.; Kumar, M. Dinesh (2015-04-30). The Sardar Sarovar Project: Assessing Economic and Social Impacts. SAGE Publishing India. ISBN 978-93-5150-480-1.
  10. ^ Khagram, Sanjeev (2018-08-06). Dams and Development: Transnational Struggles for Water and Power. Cornell University Press. ISBN 978-1-5017-2739-9.
  11. ^ Dwivedi, Ranjit (2020-11-29). Conflict and Collective Action: The Sardar Sarovar Project in India. Taylor & Francis. ISBN 978-1-000-08419-1.
  12. ^ Baxi, Upendra; Parekh, Bhikhu (1995-02-24). Crisis and Change in Contemporary India. SAGE Publications. ISBN 978-0-8039-9182-8.
  13. ^ Environment, United States Congress House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research, and (1990). Sardar Sarovar Dam Project: Hearing Before the Subcommittee on Natural Resources, Agriculture Research, and Environment of the Committee on Science, Space, and Technology, U.S. House of Representatives, One Hundred First Congress, First Session, October 24, 1989. U.S. Government Printing Office.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  14. ^ Wood, John R. (2007-04-04). The Politics of Water Resource Development in India: The Case of Narmada. SAGE Publications India. ISBN 978-81-321-0132-1.
  15. ^ Economic and Political Weekly. Sameeksha Trust. 1995.
  16. ^ Fisher, Ronald C. (1995). Toward Sustainable Development?: Struggling Over India's Narmada River. M.E. Sharpe. ISBN 978-1-56324-525-1.
  17. ^ "Senior rights activist MC Bhatt calls it a day". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 2023-03-28.
  18. ^ "Human rights activist Girish Patel awarded". The Times of India. 2002-08-28. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  19. ^ Leader, The Weekend. "Gujarat human rights lawyer Girish Patel passes away". www.theweekendleader.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  20. ^ "Human rights lawyer Girish Patel passes away at 86". Financialexpress. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  21. ^ "Noted human rights lawyer Girish Patel dies". DNA India. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  22. ^ "Gujarat human rights lawyer Girish Patel passes away". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  23. ^ "Human rights champion Girish Patel passes away". Ahmedabad Mirror. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  24. ^ "Gujarat: Prominent human rights lawyer Girish Patel dies | India.com". www.india.com. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  25. ^ "Tribute to GIRISH PATEL, doyen of human rights movement in Gujarat". The Milli Gazette — Indian Muslims Leading News Source. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  26. ^ "Social Activist and Catalyst for Justice". EPW. 53 (42). 2018-10-19.
  27. ^ PTI (2022-10-03). "India rarely saw accountability of State in targeted violence: Teesta Setalvad". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  28. ^ Scroll Staff. "India rarely sees any accountability from state during targeted violence, says Teesta Setalvad". Scroll.in. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  29. ^ VoI, Team (2022-10-03). "No State Accountability in India: Setalvad". Vibes Of India. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  30. ^ "PM Modi not willing to understand others' point of view: Kapil Sibal". Moneycontrol. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  31. ^ Sonaiya, Janvi (2021-10-03). "Opposition Is Weak Because Modi Doesn't Go By Rules: Kapil Sibal". Vibes Of India. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
  32. ^ "From Dalit activist to Gujarat MLA: Tracking Jignesh Mevani's journey". Hindustan Times. 2018-01-20. Retrieved 2023-03-03.
Retrieved from "https://en.wiki.x.io/w/index.php?title=Girishbhai_Patel&oldid=1241230191"