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The World is one family and not one market: Justice Ramajois

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Justice M. Ramajois the Governor of Jharkhand and a former Chief Justice of High Court and a renowned author, said that the ancient values of our country promote universal brotherhood by emphasising, "Vasudev Kutumbkam," which means that the whole world is one family. He ridiculed the present trend of globsalisation, which in his opinion is interpreted, as "entire world is just one market."

The Governor was delivering a lecture on India Ethos for Protection of Human Rights to the fourth Batch of Rural Litigation and Entitlement Kendra (RLEK)'s Post Graduate Diploma in Human Rights. This unique transformation from statesmen to a teacher lasted for over two hours in which the Governor also used overhead projector. In his lively presentation, he focused on several aspects of human rights and extensively quoted Sanskrit Shlokas from ancient Indian texts.

Unlike the rights based western societies ancient Indian philosophy lays emphasis on duties and lays down that the foremost right of an individual is the right to do his duty, he said.

Talking about the duties of the state Justice Ramajois said that the highest duty of the state is to protect human beings and human rights. Elaborating further, he said, "State must give equal protection to all citizens just like the mother earth protects everyone without any discrimination and distinction."

Ramajois said that the happiness of the state lies in the happiness of citizens. "The state should regard the welfare of the people as its own welfare," he said. He also said that the state must collect taxes without causing any hardship to the people, "just like the bees extract honey from the flowers without causing slightest damage to them."

Referring to the duties of the people, the eminent jurist said that the entire modern human rights protection has its roots in four fundamental duties as enshrined in Mahabharata i.e. duties to God, to parents, to teachers and above all to the humanity.

"Education is god incarnate," he said while emphasising about the right to education. He however was quick to point out the sharp distinction between literacy and education. According to him, "Literacy is the special manifestation of man; a man without education is equal to animal."

Elucidating on the ancient India ethos of tolerance, pluralism and freedom of religion in contrast to western concept of secularism, he referred to Narad Smriti, which lays down, "the disbelievers to the Vedas should be protected in the same way as a believers in Vedas."

Jharkhand Governor Justice M. Ramajois today said rape committed in police custody must be punished with a death sentence.

"Rape is the most heinous crime against women and the worst violation of a human right and the accused must be given the harshest of punishment." Said Justice Ramajois while addressing students of Human Rights Diploma Course at the RLEK Human Rights Centre here this afternoon.

The trial in rape cases is worst than the rape itself," he said while delivering his lecture on " Indian Ethos for Human Rights Protection."

"Duty generates selflessness whereas too much stress on rights generates selfishness," said the governor, adding that Indian scriptures like the Vedas propounded the philosophy of rights and duties.

"In fact, what is said in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is derived from the Rig Vada," he added.

It is the duty of every man not to inflict suffering and misery on a fellow being and it is the right of every human being to be happy."

"In today's world where there are so many natural miseries there is no death of man-made miseries," said Justice Ramajois.

Later the Governor released a book entitled, "Constitutional Issues in Freedom of Information," written by Prof. Faizan Mustafa. Prof. Mustafa has authored seven books and is a visiting professor at the RLEK Human Rights Centre.