Hemal Ashar hemal@ mid- day. com London- based and Mumbai- born legal eagle Sarosh Zaiwallau2019s book u2018 Honour Bound: Adventures of an Indian lawyer in the English courtsu2019 released at the Press Club at Azad Maidan on Thursday. It was launched by Godrej group chairman, Adi Godrej, who was Zaiwallau2019s first client, but he said, u201c I have very little recollection about that.u201d Zaiwalla too, touched upon his childhood in Mumbai in a separate chat and added, u201c I used to live on Hughes Road. I pass by the area when Iu2019m here but donu2019t remember too many landmarks.u201d The evening took off with an introduction of the book.

Editor the book, K Chopra of Harper Collins said they were contemplating naming the book u2018 Bombay Boyu2019 but then settled for u2018 Honour Boundu2019. Godrej said the book is, u201c very anecdotal and tells us how difficult it is to start a new business in a new country.u201d Senior journalist and columnist Bachi Karkaria, who was the anchor, started by saying, u201c Sarosh has worked for a number of governments, including the Indian government.u201d Zaiwalla laughed as he said he was, u201c sacked by the Indian government for acting for the Bachchans in the Bofors case.u201d He added, u201c Soon though I got a call from the Chinese government. This was December 1991. The Chinese wanted me to help set up a legal system there. It is one country where an Indian is respected more than a European.u201d Zaiwalla added that it was evident, u201c that China did not want conflict over borders with India at one point. As a Communist country, they wanted full employment for their people and for that, they wanted trade.u201d When asked about his meeting with Dalai Lama, Zaiwalla said, u201c A Chinese official was not very happy initially when I told him that I was going to meet him in Glasgow.u201d He added, u201c The Chinese had said then that the Dalai Lama could come back but more as a pastoral head looking after his flock.u201d Jammu & Kashmir A central motif in Zaiwallau2019s philosophy was that he believed in u201c globalisation and one mankind, where it is the colour of the heart and not that of the skin or a religion that matters.u201d He said that it was what attracted him to the Bahau2019i faith. He added that one way to resolve the Tibet issue was to have investment there, u201c where there is food, clothing and shelter, people are happy.