2000: Justice V.M. Tarkunde
Vittal Mahadev
Tarkunde was born on July 1909 at Saswad in Pune district, Maharashtra, in an orthodox Brahmin
family. His father Mahadev Rajaram
Tarkunde, a lawyer, led a Movement against the vice of untouchability and in
consequence, the family was ostracized by the orthodox Brahmins.
Starting with a
brilliant academic career (a first class first in matriculation), Tarkunde
obtained the degree of Bar-At-Law and started his legal practice at Pune but
devoted 15 days in a month for working among the poor peasants in rural
areas. Later on, Tarkunde came under the
influence of the legendary figure, M.N.Roy and associated himself with the
Indian Radical Humanist Association and the International Humanist Organization. He is one of the founder trustees of Indian
Renaissance Movement.
Mr.Tarakunde was
elevated to the Bench of Bombay High Court in 1957 and after an illustrious and
distinguished career of 12 years as a Judge, retired in 1969. The termination of his source as a Judge was
the beginning of a fresh span of life devoted relentlessly to win for mankind,
the right to be free as true human beings.
The emergency imposed on the country by
Indira Gandhi on the night of June 25 and 26,1975 had fully galvanized the
capacities of Justice.Tarakunde in organizing and educating the people to fight
for their freedom. He bravely took up the challenge and was arrested along with
Lok Nayak Jaya Prakash Narayan under MISA.
He is the founder of the two premier organizations, viz., People’s Union
for Civil Liberties and Citizens for Democracy, along with Lok Nayak Jaya
Prakash Narayan. He is the recipient of several national and international
awards including “Padma Bhushana” from the President of India in 1998.