“If I have seen further than others, it is by standing upon the shoulders of giants.” — Isaac Newton. This is about one of those giants — a grandfather whose example shaped a career — and a scholarship created in his memory to help deserving students study law.
About Albert Arul Selvam
He practised at the Madras High Court from 1957 to 2003 — straight to the face, never making money the priority, sticking his neck out for his clients and fighting their cause with conviction and moral responsibility. He never let the risks of holding onto his values bend him. He was so uncompromising in proceedings involving a high-level minister that he lost the chance to become a Judge of the Madras High Court rather than take the easy way up — and he didn’t regret it one bit.
He lived and died with integrity — the greatest lesson of all. He inspired the pursuit of law: to speak for those who can’t speak for themselves. And he was a silent philanthropist, helping countless children complete their education and quietly supporting several NGOs — with the instruction that his footsteps be followed in giving a hand to those who want to study.
The A.A. Selvam–IDIA Scholarship
“Give a man a fish and you feed him for a day; teach a man to fish and you feed him for a lifetime.”
To honour that mentor, Selvam & Selvam is proud to announce the A.A. Selvam–IDIA Scholarship. IDIA (Increasing Diversity by Increasing Access to Legal Education) — championed by the late Dr Shamnad Basheer — does a remarkable job identifying deserving, underprivileged students passionate about law, coaching them into law schools, and mentoring them long after admission, until they rise to become community leaders themselves. These students are identified from across the country, with extraordinary success rates.
We share that burden by sponsoring ₹1 lakh for one scholar each year, and hope to deepen our support in the years to come.
Join us
If you feel encouraged to join hands in this cause, we welcome you with open arms — reach out at rselvam@selvamandselvam.in. May his light shine through the lives of these students.
See our firm and people and our commitment to the wider legal community.