'He took it up immediately': Justice Dr. Radhabinod Pal's grandson lauds Abhishek Banerjee's role in road renaming

January 27, 2026, marks the 140th birth anniversary of Justice Dr. Radhabinod Pal, the eminent Indian jurist whose dissenting judgment at the Tokyo War Crimes Trials earned him global respect and enduring relevance.

On the occasion, his grandson Sudhi Binod Pal spoke exclusively to News Ei Samay, reflecting on how his grandfather is being honoured today, the man he was at home, and the personal memories that continue to shape his legacy.

Honouring Justice Pal in Kolkata

Speaking about recent recognitions in West Bengal, Sudhi Binod Pal described how a major road in Kolkata was renamed after Justice Pal, calling it a meaningful acknowledgement of his contribution.

"The renaming of the road happened in August 2025," he said. "Before that, in 2024, WBNUJS set up a chair and a scholarship in the name of Justice Pal, for which the West Bengal government allocated 1 crore rupees. They also installed a bust statue of Dr. Radhabinod Pal, along with Dr. B.R. Ambedkar's statue."

He then recalled how a personal appeal led to swift action. "When Mr. Abhishek Banerjee went to Japan, he visited the Yasukuni Shrine. He posted the picture on Facebook, and I commented my request to rename a road after my grandfather. He took it up immediately and asked me to suggest a few roads."

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Initially, the family had another location in mind. "We initially wanted Beadon Street to be renamed after him, but in hindsight, we thought that the Esplanade Row near the High Court would be a more suitable match."

"Mr. Abhishek Banerjee's office asked KMC to contact me, and within three months, the road was renamed. This was the second goodwill gesture from the West Bengal government," he said.

Justice Pal beyond the courtroom

Away from public life and the courtroom, Justice Pal was deeply invested in education and social upliftment, his grandson said.

"Justice Pal had a soft corner for those who didn't have the means to get higher education," Sudhi Binod Pal said. "He used to provide all kinds of support to those who approached him, right from when he started earning."

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Education, he added, was always his grandfather's priority. "Education was his main focus, and my grandfather saw to it that everyone became successful."

That belief was reflected within the family as well. "His own children were also extremely successful," he said.