Former Union Minister of Law and Justice, Ashwani Kumar, a distinguished Senior Advocate of India’s Supreme Court, is set to attend the esteemed ‘Panthéonisation ceremony’ in Paris on October 9th. The event will honor the renowned French jurist Robert Badinter. Mr. Kumar expressed his gratitude to French President Emmanuel Macron for the special invitation.
For those unfamiliar, Panthéonisation is a profound French ceremonial tradition. It involves either burying or commemorating a celebrated individual at the Panthéon in Paris – a monumental tribute reserved by the French Republic for those who have left an indelible mark on the nation across diverse fields. Historic figures such as Voltaire, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Victor Hugo, Émile Zola, Louis Braille, and the pioneering scientists Marie and Pierre Curie are among the luminaries enshrined there.
In a heartfelt press statement, Mr. Kumar fondly remembered Robert Badinter, describing him as a ‘distinguished humanist, jurist, and statesman of France.’ He highlighted Badinter’s unwavering commitment as a ‘relentless crusader for the abolition of the death penalty.’ Mr. Kumar further shared, ‘I had the honor of knowing Mr. Robert Badinter, a former Justice Minister of France and President of the Constitutional Council, for many years, and had the privilege of visiting him in Paris on several occasions recently.’
Mr. Kumar profoundly acknowledged Badinter’s ‘selflessness and passionate espousal of human rights and public causes,’ which he stated ‘distinguished him as a great son of the French Republic.’ He concluded his statement by extending his gratitude: ‘I thank President Macron and the French government for bestowing upon Mr. Robert Badinter the exceptional honor of being interred in the Pantheon in Paris.’