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career in Delhi University, he had a decisive influence on the academic work of the Faculty of Law, pushing it towards a greater orientation to the problems of the poor and the downtrodden. The fellowships of the American Council of Learned Societies and Columbia University soon followed. Professor Menon pioneered clinical legal education in India while a member of the Faculty of Law of Delhi University. He also pioneered work on law and poverty and was a leader of the legal aid movement. During highly successful stints as Principal, Goverment Law College, Pondicherry Dean, Faculty of Law, Annamalai University, Dr Menon deepened his reputation as a far sighted scholar, inspiring teacher and able administrator. As a teacher, Prof Menon inspired many generations of students, several of whom have risen to positions of national prominence. All his students gratefully acknowledge the gift of education that he has bequeathed to them. Prof Menon's active association with the Bar Council of India resulted in the Bar Council reinforcing its work in the cause of improving legal education. Prof Menon catalysed a unique partnership between the judiciary, the bar and the legal academia which has had a crucial influence in improving legal education in the country. Of the many stalwarts of independent India who turned their attention to the vexatious problem of improving the quality of legal education in India, once stands out for his clarity of vision, scholarship, leadership qualities, and the determination, perseverance and ability to translate ideas into reality. Revolutionising Indian legal education has been the life's mission of this true karma yogi who achieved what was widely considered an impossible task - establishing an institution of excellence in Indian legal education. Dr Neelakanta Ramakrishna Madhava Menon single handedly wrought fundamental change in Indian legal education and established a model that is today sought to be emulated across our country and in several other countries. The National Law School of India University, Bangalore, is a standing testimony to his vision, courage, determination and achievement. Given his accomplishments, he was called upon to shoulder many other important responsibilities including that of Member, Law Commission of India. The Government of West Bengal sought him out to head the West Bengal National University of Juridical Science, Calcutta. Currently, he is Member of Central State Relations Commission set up by the Government of India. Prof Menon is a prolific writer, editor and scholar of legal literature. Throughout his career, he has published and disseminated legal knowledge addressing not only legal academia, the Bar and the Bench, but also non-law audiences. It is in recognition of his magnificent academic contributions that he was awarded the plaque of honour by the Bar Council of India in 1990 and the Living Legend Award in 1994 by the International Bar Association. Prof Menon is today universally accepted - in India and worldwide - as the unquestioned leader of Indian legal education. On the occasion of his completing 50 years as a Law Teacher, The Society of Indian Law Firm has immense pride and joy in presenting this citation to Prof Dr Neelakanta Ramakrishna Menon with our deepest gratitude to the father of modern Indian legal education."