Our friend and colleague Vijay Nagaraj, a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Human Rights Practice, died on 25 August 2017 in a road accident in Sri Lanka, where he worked with the Law and Society Trust. He was 44 years old. We asked a number of Vijay’s colleagues from different stages in his working life to offer their reflections and memories of his contributions. For the many readers who crossed paths with Vijay, we hope that these will evoke his life and remind them of his friendship. For the many who never knew Vijay, the range of his interests and contributions is justification enough for taking this space to honour his memory. Man of ideas and tireless worker behind the scenes; relentless critic and relentless self-critic; human rights believer and human rights sceptic—these recollections offer a window on a life dedicated to human rights.