Hyderabad, May 31 -- With the passing away of senior advocate Ghulam Yazdani, Hyderabad has lost not merely a lawyer or social worker, but a living institution who embodied the grace, moderation and composite culture of the Old City. He was a man difficult to define - lawyer, politician, writer, educationist, organiser, lover of Urdu language and above all, a deeply concerned citizen who remained actively engaged with society till his final days.

He lived a full and purposeful life of 98 years, but what made him extraordinary was not merely longevity. It was the energy and enthusiasm with which he lived every single day. Even people decades younger would struggle to match his discipline, curiosity and commitment to public life.

The usua...