E-Paper
The Indian spirit
India will now lead the world not only in human rights but also economic and material growth, writes Murlidhar C Bhandare.
In the recent election to the UN Human Rights Council, India won the highest number of votes — 173 out of 191. It fared better compared to other leading nations — Japan got 158 votes, Germany 154, China 146, Russia 137, and UK 148. The main criterion for election to the Council is the ‘contribution of candidates to the promotion and protection of human rights and their voluntary pledges and commitments made thereto.’ The result is hence a testament for India’s human rights record.
The yoke of foreign domination, which deprived every citizen of freedom, was thrown away by the Independence movement. Mahatma Gandhi is the father of human rights in today’s world. In South Africa he started a movement against apartheid, which was eventually annihilated. In India he launched the non-violent movement and won independence for India.
On non-violence he said: “To use brute force, to use gunpowder... means that we want to force our opponent to do that which we desire but he does not. And if such a use of force is justifiable, surely he is entitled to do likewise by us.
“Do you not tremble to think of freeing India by assassination? ... Those who will rise to power by murder will certainly not make the nation happy....”
He was a stickler for honest means to achieve great goals. It was not easy to carry on the struggle through non-violence in the face of violence and repression of the British — it required observance of the highest discipline and values.
Jawaharlal Nehru, in his speech at the dawn of Independence, said: “The future beckons us. Whither do we go and what shall be our endeavour? To bring freedom and opportunity to the common man, to the peasants and workers of India, to fight and end poverty and ignorance and disease; to build up a prosperous, democratic and progressive nation, to ensure justice and fullness of life to every man and woman”. This reflects the same spirit as enshrined in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights adopted by the UN on December 10, 1988.
India continues to put into practice this basic principle, whether encompassed in Indira Gandhi’s call for ‘Garibi Hatao’ and Sonia Gandhi’s assurance ‘Hamara Hath Am Admi Ke Sath’.
Our Constitution is one of the noblest documents on human rights. Its Preamble solemnly resolves to secure to every citizen justice, liberty, equality and fraternity with dignity. The Constitution guarantees and enforces human rights in Part III. Article 13(1) renders void all existing laws inconsistent with Part III, and Article 13(2) prohibits the state from making any law which takes away or abridges the rights conferred by Part III. Our Constitution has been constantly amended to secure greater democracy and freedoms. The Right to Education from the age of 6 to 14 is now a fundamental basic human right under Article 21-A.
India is the largest and most vibrant democracy in the world. We have had as many as 14 elections to the Lok Sabha. The last election for the Jammu & Kashmir State Assembly was watched by several nations and universally acknowledged as free and fair. For fifty-eight years, the ballot has vanquished the bullet in India.
Equally, India is the most pluralistic and diverse society in the world — with many religions, ethnicities, races, languages and cultures. Democracy has thrived despite the challenge of hunger, illiteracy and unemployment.
Democracy, human rights, rule of law, development and peace are the Panchsheel, the five pillars on which the movement against terrorism has been pushed forward in India.
India will now lead the world not only in human rights but also economic and material growth. India will enhance human democracy and not market democracy, setting an example for amalgamating globalisation with poverty alleviation. She will serve as a lighthouse for others to chart their course in the world of human rights of equal dignity for all.
