Thakore, along with Constitutional expert Nani Palkhiwala, was felicitated for his immense contribution to the field of justice by the Bar Association of India at Mumbai recently.

But the recognition did not come overnight, or, as one notable had remarked, ``I woke up one morning and found myself famous.'' That morning came for Thakore only after 39 years of honest, selfless service. Yet Thakore is unassuming. ``It is good recognition,'' he says. ``It comes one's way if one works honestly.''

Of course, 39 years is a long time in this age of fast-changing governments. Thakore was appointed Advocate-General on May 1, 1960, the day Gujarat was created from the erstwhile Bombay state.

And there has been no looking back since then.

The long tenure has had its high moments. After the 1965 war, Pakistan had claimed its right to the northern half of 7,000 square miles of the Rann of Kutch. The argument was that thousands of years ago Kutch was an inland sea, and so Pakistan had a right to half the area.

The dispute went to the International Court at Geneva. Thakore assisted the then Attorney-General of India, C K Daftari, in arguing India's case. ``We substantially succeeded,'' he says. Instead of the approximately 3,500 square miles that Pakistan wanted, it got only a small chunk.

Another of Thakore's high points was when he represented Gujarat at the Narmada Water Disputes Tribunal, which heard four States sqabbling for Narmada water.

For eight years, Thakore fought for Gujarat. ``We got good dam height of 455 feet, which politicians have not been able to do due to politics,'' he says, pointing out that Gujarat has not been able to ``successfully'' handle the matter. He also appeared for the state government when a commission of inquiry was appointed to look into the Macchu dam tragedy, which had wiped out Morbi town in 1979.

Despite political upheavals which saw one government after another in and out of power it has been smooth sailing for Thakore. Does he think the breed of politicians has changed over time? ``No. Every politician is the same.''

Interestingly, Thakore has had no problem with any government. Why? ``I myself do not know.'' However, referring to his sound faculties, he quipped, ``Which government will keep you if you are not fit?''

At the felicitation, Attorney-General Soli Sorabjee aptly described Thakore as a man who had never been mean or little. Bar Association president F S Nariman had said that Thakore was felicitated for his outstanding contribution to the development of Constitutional law, commitment to the rule of law, and selfless service to the legal profession. Thakore was born and brought up in Mumbai. After completing his B.A. from Wilson College in 1934, he took a degree in law from the Government Law College, before beginning practice at Mumbai High Court.