In our everyday lives, we often hear the word “profound.” But how rarely do we truly meet profound? I do — almost every day. I call him Profound, not as an adjective, but as a noun. I do this because the word doesn't describe him — it is him.

Today, we celebrate 75 glorious years of Mr. R. Venkatramani, who continues to astonish not just me, or my colleagues, his briefing counsels or even the Hon’ble Judges of the Supreme Court, but every single person who has the privilege of encountering him. I call him the Z in a world full of ABCs. No matter how much you’ve read, studied, or researched ,there’s always a Z that only he can unveil. A perspective, a nuance, an angle you never imagined, until he points it out.

What sets him apart is not only the sheer depth of knowledge he possesses, but his extraordinary ability to not just absorb knowledge, but to feel it. Before I met him, I didn’t know knowledge could be felt. But through him, I discovered that knowledge can have a pulse, a spirit, a rhythm. He doesn’t just know; he connects. And in that connection lies his brilliance, the brilliance of a man who has not only mastered the art of thinking, but has elevated it into something deeply human. He believes that the creativity of the human brain is incredible- emotions has value and so does reason.

I still remember my first day at his esteemed office. Nervous and new, I asked him what now seems like a rookie question: “Is personally supporting a government essential for an Attorney General?”

He looked at me, picked up the Constitution, and said something that has stayed with me ever since: "Our job is not to support — it is to balance. The only allegiance an Attorney General must hold is to the Constitution, and to the rights it promises every citizen."
Since that day, he hasn’t just taught us how to balance rights, he has taught us the art of balance itself. He has shown us how to compartmentalise our energy, thoughts and emotions while having a successful career, something all us young people struggle with.

He is a leader. A teacher. And more than anything else, a compassionate, understanding senior. Over my tenure with him, I’ve given him many names. Santa Claus — because more often than not, he walks into his chamber carrying a box of chocolates, sweets, or dates, never hesitating to steal a bite himself. Grandfather — because on late nights at work, he checks in on us with fruits in hand, making sure we’re not running on an empty tank. And then there’s the title that terrifies him the most: Supreme Leader. But to me, it’s a compliment — because I truly believe he leads like no other.

He doesn’t believe in the aggressive assertion of power. For him, power is not something to wield, it is something to hold responsibly, to use wisely, and, most importantly, to never misuse. That quiet, grounded authority is what makes him stand out in a world that often confuses loudness with strength.

On non-court days, our Attorney General is a picture of simple elegance — walking around in his comfortable veshtis, moving in and out of his chamber with briefs in one hand and books in another. He might pause to dictate an enlightening speech for an upcoming event, and the next moment, you’ll find him sharing a quiet conversation with his wonderful wife, in between meetings and files.

He greets personal and professional guests alike -with the same energy, the same warmth and you can't help but wonder: Is 75 really just a number?

I am not trying to say he is different, one of a kind. He is not extraordinary, like the sun, moon and the whole universe. He is just him. He carries so much weight in his simplicity and is a perfect summation of quiet greatness. I asked him what is life according to him and he sent me a poem he wrote onboard a flight from Bangalore, as an answer.

Here it is for all of us to read and admire-

“The thirst that knows no death

The ultimate thirst; The thirst quenched not by searches for fleeting ways

The thirst that chases the mind

In the chase of the mind for pleasures small

The thirst beyond the calls of flesh

The thirst unlike steam that traceless vanish

The thirst for truths

In mystic shelves stored

The truths that tease

Mind maths and science

All human hunt in vanity made

The thirst that in silent ways

Like shadow walks

In mocking ways

All human run

For endless ends

My tears in silent rolls

Ever in appeal

For embrace of the grace

My doors and windows

All bolts unlocked

To welcome and hold

Your whispers and greets

To fill my crowded pages

Scribbled with

Tales and stories

Of bubble make

The wait is long

the curtain to be drawn

Me let you not

These teasing truths

I cease will not Halt to chase

Till the thirst

Is quenched

By the vault of truths.

Venkataramani

On board AI 808

Bangalore-Delhi”

For 75 years, he has lived with quiet gravitas, unshakable integrity, and a mind that never ceases to inspire awe. But for those of us fortunate enough to work alongside him, he has been more than a mentor. He has been a compass — unwavering, steady, and always pointing true north. On this special day, we don’t just celebrate his years, we celebrate his impact. The lives he’s shaped, the minds he’s sharpened, and the ideals he’s stood for. Happy 75th, Sir!

Thank you for showing us that the law is not just a profession, but a calling and that balance is not just a concept, but a way of life. Here’s to many more years of wisdom, wit, and wonder and Z!

- Oorjasvi Goswami is an independent advocate and a graduate of ILS Law College, Class of 2018. With five years of experience at the Bar, she currently works as an associate to the Attorney General for India, Mr. R. Venkataramani. Her practice has involved significant constitutional matters, including the sub-classification of castes, the application of the Right to Education Act to minority institutions, and the Tamil Nadu Governor case, among others.