My personal relationship with L M Singhvi spanned 45 years. We first become friends in 1962. That year he was elected to Lok Sabha from Jodhpur. In his professional, social and personal lives, what was common was his expanse. One may not have agreed with some of his ways of doing things, but one could not disregard his expanse, his outreach to people, his knowledge of the scriptures (he was a scholar of Jainism).

He would say to me, “OP, I don’t want to be just a jurist, or a diplomat. I want to live life to the maximum.” He lived life to the brim. Even till a week ago, when he was in hospital, he mentioned a new book he wanted to read.

Singhvi had a problem, he couldn’t say no. It got him into odd situations. But he also enjoyed it and the expanse it gave his life. He had a capacity to create a synergy, to synthesise one and many. Connected to this was his civility. He was a great gentleman. He was nice to people who didn’t agree with him, he didn’t make enemies.

I saw him closely as a jurist, a diplomat, a parliamentarian, and as a father, husband and son. I've seen him when his mother was alive. In the late evening he would sit at her bedside and press her feet. He was a great husband to Kamlaji and look how he groomed his son, Abhishek.

As a friend, he was caring and giving, and I looked up to him as a mentor. It was only when I celebrated my 60th birthday that I realised he was three years younger to me.

... contd.