Martin Khor: Deep commitment to his convictions S. P. Shukla

I saw the sad news about Martin, and it was a shock to me as he was much younger to me in age.

I had first met him in 1992 soon after my quitting the post of Finance Secretary to the Government of India and we became good friends at that very first meeting. I had been to Penang at his invitation for a seminar, but unfortunately got into an allergic bout of unceasing hiccups, and had to return mid-way during the seminar. At that time, Martin looked after me personally like an affectionate younger brother.

In the years that followed, he would always make it a point to meet up whenever he visited Delhi. Vandana and Meera Shiva too used to bring him along. He had the unique combination of straightforwardness and politeness, of deep commitment to his convictions and genuine respect for others.

I did not know about his illness, so the shock of the news is even more stunning. My profound condolences to the TWN and South community.

(S. P. Shukla was India’s Representative to GATT (1983-1989), and later Secretary to Government of India in Commerce and then Finance, before quitting government.)