M. K. Nambyar Collection

Meloth Krishnan Nambyar (1898-c.1975), often known as M. K. Nambyar, was one of India’s most respected constitutional lawyers before and after independence. It is rare to see a lawyer from a district court occupy center stage in the Supreme Court, but M.K. Nambyar achieved this remarkable feat. Starting his practice in a district court in Mangalore, M.K. Nambyar rose to become an eminent constitutional lawyer. NLSIU’s Law and Society Archives have M.K. Nambyar’s 33-volume archival digital collections, which consist of his handwritten notes, legal reflections, case analyses, and draft articles painstakingly recorded in his writing; for a layperson, they aren't easy to read. Volume 32 is a collection of some articles based on M.K. Nambyar, written by other scholars, while volume 33 is also a printed collection of articles written by M.K. Nambiar themselves. So, M.K. Nambyar's collection of 33 volumes provides a rare and intimate glimpse into the mind and methods of one of India’s foremost constitutional lawyers. This collection is not just a record of legal thought; it is a testament to a life devoted to justice, scholarship, and the democratic values enshrined in the Constitution. Written during a crucial period in India's legal history, the notes reflect Nambyar’s evolving thoughts on constitutional interpretation, civil liberties, and legal ethics. For law students, the collection offers a unique insight into principled legal reasoning. For researchers and legal historians, it serves as an authentic primary source that captures the intellectual atmosphere of early independent India.