Summary:
Chennai, Aug 6 (PTI) National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) and State Commissions are functioning effectively serving the cause of the government of India, NHRC chairperson Arun Mishra said here on Saturday.
The issue of human rights, concern for the environment and thought for others’ wellbeing including the deprived sections, is age-old practice in the country and these values are embedded in India’s ethos and culture, the chairperson said while speaking at the silver jubilee of the Tamil Nadu State Human Rights Commission here.
“For equal protection of human rights it is necessary that every human respects the rights of all beings, and biodiversity on earth because without that human existence is not possible,” he said.
Pointing out that humans are dependent on each other, Mishra said there is space also for taking care of the environment.
“We have to care of the environment and take care of the system, take care of each other and live with dignity, love and affection,” he said.
Human rights has been embedded in the Indian ethos and culture from the beginning, at least 5,000 years ago.
"Even globalisation that we now talk of is a concept, which is also 5,000 years old and we can find it in the Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (world is one family) concept in our scriptures,” he said.
Mishra further said that the Hindu culture has the power to assimilate all religions, cultures and languages and this is the power, spirit and culture of India.
“When we go back to the Mahabharat days, we find that the civil liberties in a political system have to be protected by the rulers,” he said.
Mahabharat is a salutary example of human rights.
During the great war, the battle was fought during the day and in the evening, the warring groups visited each other’s camps, even enemy camps, looked after the injured, held talks for compromise or solutions.
"That is our culture," Mishra said.
In the Ramayana, Ram restrained Lakshmana from using weapon of mass destruction stating that one should not use them ordinarily but very sparingly.
He stops Lakshmana from destroying the masses.
“That is the culmination of India’s policy of no first use of atomic energy.
Our entire system is embedded with human rights and even food security, which we can see in the form of Langar established by the Sikh gurus, where food is given for free," he said.
Further, the concept of sustainable development, earlier measured in terms of GDP, is now progressive and inclusive.