Felicitation of ND Pancholi
By PUCL Delhi
The People’s Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL), Delhi, honoured N.D. Pancholi with the Lifetime Dedication Award for his relentless service in promoting human rights and democracy. The felicitation event was held at the Press Club of India on 6th April, 2025.
N.D. Pancholi joined the Indian Renaissance Institute in 1972. He played a key role in forming Citizens for Democracy in 1973-74 and was one of its founding members. He also co-founded PUCL & DR and served as its General Secretary in Delhi from 1976 to 1980.
We reproduce below a tribute to Mr. Pancholi by Arun Kumar, which was read at the felicitation ceremony.
Pancholi ji is a remarkable person. He has stood by the Civil Rights movement like a rock in spite of all the challenges that have been thrown at him during his life, since the time of Emergency. His presence has been a support to the people fighting for their civil rights. The last decade has been very trying with growing authoritarianism in the Centre and the States. When many have gone quiet, Pancholi ji has carried on defending Civil liberties.
He worked with stalwarts like Justice Tarkunde and Kuldip Nayar and after their departure, he has carried the torch lit by them just after the Emergency came to an end in 1976. He has valiantly carried forward the work of Peoples’ Union for Civil Liberties (PUCL) and the Citizens for Democracy (CFD).
His simplicity and humbleness are remarkable. In spite of his great contribution to these movements. He always meets and greets people who come to the meetings of these organizations as a worker and not as a leader. This endears him to the participants.
His work as a lawyer has played an important role in keeping these movements going. Whenever anyone faces a violation of their civil rights Pancholi ji is up there with them and not only taking up cases in the Courts but also standing with them. He has participated in Enquiries and Committees that have gone to the site of violation of civil rights.
With age, he has faced health issues but whenever I have asked him about his health he has said ‘Ab to theek hai’. I have not heard him say that he cannot participate in an activity because of his health. He has come, even with the help of his grandchild, but he has come.
My wife Neerja has known him for much longer and she shares these sentiments.
More people like him are needed today. Our best wishes to this Civil Rights crusader and we wish him many more years of comradeship in the movement.