From a moment of reverence at a Tokyo shrine to the bustling streets of Kolkata, Trinamul Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee has delivered on his word with stunning swiftness. On 23 May, during his visit to Japan as part of the all-party parliamentary delegation on India’s global outreach against terrorism, Abhishek Banerjee paid homage at Justice Radhabinod Pal’s memorial in Tokyo. Following that, Pal’s grandson made an emotional appeal for his grandfather’s recognition, requesting that a road in Kolkata be named after the legendary jurist who had lived there for 35 years.
Mr Banerjee didn’t just listen; he took onus. Following his intervention, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation has now renamed Esplanade Row West as “Justice Radhabinod Pal Sarani,” transforming a heartfelt request into permanent recognition for one of Bengal’s most courageous legal minds. Abhishek Banerjee’s swift action proves that meaningful gestures abroad can translate into lasting change at home, and that true leaders don’t just make promises, they keep them.
Taking to the social media platform X, the Trinamul Congress wrote: “The legacy of eminent jurist Justice Radhabinod Pal has been etched into Kolkata’s heart. After Shri @abhishekaitc’s tribute to him in Tokyo, a street has now been renamed as Justice Radhabinod Pal Sarani, as requested by his family.
“A proud moment for Bengal, this honour pays homage to one of its brightest luminaries whose voice of justice resonated across the world.”
Abhishek had mentioned in his post on social media during his May visit about the visit to the memorial of the Bengali luminary. “Day 2 in Tokyo of the All-Party Parliamentary Delegation to Japan was marked by moments of deep personal reflection and purposeful diplomatic engagement. I began the day by paying homage to two extraordinary sons of Bengal whose legacies transcend borders – Shri Rash Behari Bose, who championed India’s independence from afar with unflinching resolve, and Justice Radhabinod Pal, whose principled stand in the face of global consensus remains a testament to the courage of conviction.”
Mr Banerjee visited the monument dedicated to Justice Radhabinod Pal at the Yaskuni Shrine and paid floral tributes.
Justice Pal was a member of the United Nations’ International Law Commission from 1952-66. He was one of the three Asian judges appointed to the International Military Tribunal for the Far East, known as the Tokyo Trial of Japanese war crimes committed during World War II. He was the only one among all the judges who insisted that all defendants were not guilty. The Yasukuni Shrine and the Rozen Gokoku Shrine in Kyoto have monuments specially dedicated to him.