It is not every day that a university hosts a Former Chief Justice of India. On the 80th Independence Day, Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai, the 52nd Chief Justice of India, joined Parul University’s celebrations, hoisting the national flag alongside Dr. Devanshu Patel, President of Parul University, and delivering a landmark address to the university’s law students and faculty on the values that hold a democracy together.
A Patriotic, Diverse Welcome
The morning opened with pride. After the flag hoisting, Justice Gavai received a warm, traditional welcome from Parul University’s NCC students, complete with a tika ceremony. The celebration reflected Parul University’s remarkably diverse community: students from Maharashtra performed Dhol Tasha, international students danced Garba, and others performed Bharatanatyam, a vivid picture of “Unity in Diversity.” In his welcome address, Dr. Devanshu Patel reminded students that the Constitution is not a mere piece of paper but a real opportunity for ordinary people to do extraordinary things, observing that “citizenship starts where no one sees you.”
The Finest Campus I Have Seen”
Justice Gavai’s appreciation for Parul University was striking and freely given. Noting that he had visited some of the world’s best universities, including Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge, he said Parul University had the finest university campus he had ever seen. He was impressed by its scale, more than 70,500 students, with over 28,000 accommodated in hostels, and, above all, by its commitment to affordability. Offering high-quality legal education for as little as one to two lakh rupees, he remarked, is a genuine service to students from across India and the world. He added, warmly, that he was so taken with the campus that he would have preferred to stay there rather than at a hotel.
The Real Meaning of Independence
Turning to the day’s significance, Justice B.R. Gavai urged students to see Independence Day as more than the end of British rule, as a day to remember the promises of the Constitution.
It requires an understanding of these values that animate the constitutional text, particularly justice, liberty, equality, and, of course, human dignity.
– Justice B. R. Gavai, Former Chief Justice of India
He recalled Dr. B. R. Ambedkar’s warning from 1949: that political equality (one person, one vote) means little without social and economic equality, and that failing to bridge that gap could put democracy itself at risk. It set the tone for a lecture rooted in the rule of law and the duty of legal profession.
An Engaged, Global Student Q&A
The session’s most memorable stretch was the students’ questions, which showcased just how thoughtfully Parul University’s young minds engage with the law. Students from across India and the world took part: Unbichanu Naorem from Manipur asked when the judiciary should check Parliament’s law-making; Marvin Patsika, an international student from Zimbabwe, asked whether judges should keep decisions short in a social-media age (Justice Gavai replied that judgments are written to resolve legal questions, not to please the public); and Kritika Purohit from Rajasthan asked how a lawyer can argue that a settled old law has become unjust, drawing his memorable reply that many past minority opinions become the majority law of tomorrow because the Constitution is a living, growing document. Students from Bihar and beyond raised free speech, parliamentary debate, and the challenge of AI and deepfakes, a topic on which he called for stronger laws. Explore law courses at Parul University, including Bachelor of Law (LL.B), Bachelor of Arts in Laws (Hons.), and Master of Law (LL.M) in Business and Corporate Law.
Honouring Justice and a Historic Day
The event also honoured local guardians of justice: Justice B.R. Gavai and Dr. Devanshu Patel felicitated three distinguished judges of the Vadodara District Court, Ms. Poonam Swami, Ms. Kavita Ghelot, and Ms. Chitra Siyal. Students presented Justice Gavai with handmade gifts, and he signed a memory board and autographed copies of his book for the law students and visiting advocates. The session closed on a stirring note for the young audience.
The independence of India was a gift from our forefathers, but the future of India lies only in the honest efforts of the coming generation.
– The closing message of the session
FAQs
Who is Justice B. R. Gavai?
Justice Bhushan Ramkrishna Gavai is the Former Chief Justice of India, having served as the 52nd Chief Justice of India. A distinguished jurist with a long career at the bar and on the bench, he is known for judgments upholding constitutional rights and the rule of law. He addressed Parul University on Independence Day 2026.
What did Justice Gavai speak about at Parul University?
He spoke on the Constitution, the rule of law, and the role of young lawyers in building a just India, covering the promises of the Constitution, fundamental rights, checks on government power, and the duty of the legal profession to serve society. He also answered a wide range of student questions and praised Parul University’s campus and affordable education.
What did he say about Parul University?
Justice B.R Gavai praised Parul University warmly, saying that, having visited universities including Harvard, Columbia, and Cambridge, he found Parul University to have the finest campus he had ever seen. He especially appreciated its scale (over 70,000 students) and its commitment to affordable, high-quality education.
