At a gathering that saw top legal personalities and was marked by respect and humour at at Oberoi Towers in South Mumbai, Attorney General Soli S Sorabjee and President of the Bar Association F S Nariman spoke with warmth about the two personalities.

Palkhivala, the 79-year-old constitutional expert who touched the lives of the common man with his public discourses on the annual budget, was moved when the gathering gave him a standing ovation.

Described as an affectionate, humble man with a sense of humour and a phenomenal memory, Palkhiwala was called a `reincarnation of McCoy' by Sorabjee. ``He never once had a holier-than-thou attitude that marks a number of advocates of today,'' observed Sorabjee as he talked of the stalwart's love for Victorian poets and literature.

On cue, Palkhiwala quoted a sensitive verse that showed the legalgiant's deep humility the words described a man's prayer for strength, love, life and power, and how God grants him nothing that he `wanted', but everything that he `prayed for'.

The other legal great to be felicitated was J M Thakore, Advocate General of Gujarat since 1960 who wanted the audience to believe that the distinction of his long tenure was more of an `historical accident' than any recognition of his merit.

``One could liken it to the temperament of the Gujarati, who does not like to disturb the existing state of matters,'' he said amidst laughter.A law graduate from the Bombay University, Thakore had practiced under Motilal Setalvad, who later on went on to become the first Attorney General of the country. After having practised in Bombay till 1960 he was appointed as Advocate General of Gujarat and worked for it since its formation.

Some of the important cases handled by Thakore was to represent the Government for fixing the price of gas payable by the Gujarat State Fertiliser Co Ltd, theGujarat Electricity Board to the Oil and Natural Gas Commission.

Among scores of notable appearances include those before the Commission of Inquiry set up in 1969 and again in 1986 to inquire into the communal disturbances in Ahmedabad, and before the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal and the Machchu II Dam Commission of Inquiry.

He has been with Gujarat and has served 27 governments, 13 Chief Ministers and stayed with five President's rules in the state.

``What is more honourable is that I am being felicitated along with Nani,'' he rounded up.