Updated On: 17 November, 2025 09:11 AM IST | Mumbai | Shriram Iyengar
On the sidelines of the seventh Dehradun Literature Festival, the former CJI DY Chandrachud discussed with mid-day about nature of law, and the need to build a constitutionally aware populace

Former CJI DY Chandrachud (centre) at the festival, with students Avnish Singh Chauhan (left) and Palak Tomar. pics courtesy/DDLF
There is an immediate air of quiet and sobriety as we watch our guest walk in. It might be the middle of a long day that was filled with talks and debates, but former Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud looks well-rested. He barely has a moment before he asks us to begin with the questions. “It was quite a wonderful session in the morning,” he says. The Harvard Law alum has been travelling across the country talking about his latest book, Why The Constitution Matters (Penguin Random House India) that was released earlier this year. The trip to Dehradun follows the launch of the book in Mumbai at the recently concluded LiteratureLive! The Mumbai Lit Fest.

The former CJI credits Munshi Premchand’s Gaban for sparking a love for law in him. File pic