January 16, 2021 marks a memorable day in Indian history, wherein we will be celebrating centenary of Padma Vibhushan Late Dr. N. A. Palkhivala who is widely acknowledged as ‘God’s Gift to India’. Many of us at the ITAT Bar Association (Mumbai), and the All India Federation of Tax Practitioners (AIFTP) were fortunate enough to have an opportunity to interact with Shri N. A. Palkhivala frequently and at close quarters. I had the immense privilege of being the Honorary Secretary of the ITAT Bar Association during the period that he was the President of the Association. As kindred as every personal interaction with him was, I had the occupational advantage of listening to his arguments before the High Court at Bombay, the ITAT and his speeches at various Tax Conferences. His Budget speeches were a whole different delight, enthralling an entire stadium of people with the same rapt attention that a match on the same ground would struggle to replicate till perhaps it was classified as a nail biter that went up to the last ball!

Posted on: January 29th, 2021