About

Exploring law beyond the courtroom through reflection, experience, and dialogue.

The idea for Lawful Talks traces back to a conversation in May 2018 during a visit to Boston, when my wife Shalini and I met Dr. Kevin Oye, Executive Director of the Tufts Gordon Institute. Our discussion moved across subjects like law, governance, public institutions, and the contrasts between the Indian and American legal systems.

At the end of that conversation, Kevin suggested something simple yet powerful: that I should consider sharing my years of legal experience through a blog on contemporary legal issues.

When we met again a year later at our son Rahul’s graduation at Tufts University, Kevin asked whether I had begun writing. I was deeply struck that he remembered a passing remark from a conversation a year earlier. His encouragement stayed with me and quietly planted the seed for what would eventually become Lawful Talks.

At his best, man is the noblest of all animals; separated from law and justice he is the worst.

Aristotle

Lawful Talks began during the unusual quiet of the COVID-19 pandemic, when the rhythm of courts slowed and time opened up for reflection. What started as a simple experiment soon grew into a platform for thoughtful conversations on law, society, and public life.

Today, the blog draws upon decades of legal practice while engaging with issues that matter beyond the courtroom, from constitutional questions and legal reform to the broader relationship between law and society.

The journey continues to be shaped by the support of my wife, Shalini Chavan, a practising family court lawyer and editor of the blog, and my daughter, Amrita Moon Chavan, whose writing and insight continue to inspire the work.

Through Lawful Talks, the aim remains the same: to create a space where legal ideas are explored with clarity, curiosity, and a sense of public responsibility.