Equal rights: Governor preaches love for all, hatred for none
‘There should be no discrimination on the basis of colour or creed’.
Mahmood says South Asian economies have progressed but fruits of development have not been shared at the grassroots level.
LAHORE:
Governor Syed Ahmed Mahmood said on Thursday: “Love to all and hate to none should be our motto.”
He was addressing the 8th international seminar in connection with Dr Ambredkar Day titled Social Discrimination – Poison for Democracy, organised by the Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation (SGRHF) and the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) at Al-Raazi Hall, New Campus of the Punjab University, here on Thursday.
Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dr Mujahid Mansoori, Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Chaudhry Riaz Ahmed, Dr Paramjit Singh of Guru Nanak University, Dr Rajivlochan from Chandigarh University, Indian activist Manjula Paradeep, CSAS Director Umbreen Javed, SGRHF Director Yousaf Irfan, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
Mahmood said South Asian countries had progressed economically but fruits of development had not been distributed at the grassroots level. He said a majority of the population still lived under the poverty line.
He said: “We have to eliminate all sorts of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour and profession as provision of social equality and justice is need of the hour.” He said the provision of rights to the underprivileged segments of the society was not just a constitutional issue.
The governor said Dr Ambredkar was not only a thinker, he had devoted his whole life to getting underprivileged people their right.
Kamran said: “We should eliminate all types of biases and discrimination.” He said a change of hearts and minds was the real revolution. He said there was concentration of wealth in a few hands because of a system of usury. He said if the lifestyles of the leaders were simple, their thinking would be in the right direction.
Mansoori said according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), no man was superior to others on account of colour and caste. He said respect for humanity should be promoted to eradicate prejudices. He said education was a long term solution to social. Unfortunately, it had not been given due importance in the manifestoes of political parties. He stressed the need to improve primary education. He said the media was more independent in Pakistan than in any other country’s.
Rajivlochan said social discrimination was a complicated problem. He said Dr Ambredkar had convinced his over 250 colleagues from the upper class to legislate for the rights of underprivileged people. He said low castes in India were now inclining towards education.
Manjula Paradeep said: “We want to resolve issues without anger and bloodshed.” She said many social activists had been killed for raising voice for social rights.
She said unfortunately, there were so many layers of sub-castes among Dalits (untouchables). She said education, not religion or caste empowered people.
Dr Paramjit Singh said racism also existed in countries like the United States. He said: “The constitutions of our countries provide social rights to people, but, practically, they are deprived of many of these rights.” He said: “Dr Ambredkar had given us the lesson of ‘organise, educate and agitate’.”
Later, Prof Kamran presented souvenirs to Mahmood and Indian delegates.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.
Governor Syed Ahmed Mahmood said on Thursday: “Love to all and hate to none should be our motto.”
He was addressing the 8th international seminar in connection with Dr Ambredkar Day titled Social Discrimination – Poison for Democracy, organised by the Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation (SGRHF) and the Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) at Al-Raazi Hall, New Campus of the Punjab University, here on Thursday.
Vice Chancellor Dr Mujahid Kamran, Dr Mujahid Mansoori, Evacuee Trust Property Board Chairman Chaudhry Riaz Ahmed, Dr Paramjit Singh of Guru Nanak University, Dr Rajivlochan from Chandigarh University, Indian activist Manjula Paradeep, CSAS Director Umbreen Javed, SGRHF Director Yousaf Irfan, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion.
Mahmood said South Asian countries had progressed economically but fruits of development had not been distributed at the grassroots level. He said a majority of the population still lived under the poverty line.
He said: “We have to eliminate all sorts of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour and profession as provision of social equality and justice is need of the hour.” He said the provision of rights to the underprivileged segments of the society was not just a constitutional issue.
The governor said Dr Ambredkar was not only a thinker, he had devoted his whole life to getting underprivileged people their right.
Kamran said: “We should eliminate all types of biases and discrimination.” He said a change of hearts and minds was the real revolution. He said there was concentration of wealth in a few hands because of a system of usury. He said if the lifestyles of the leaders were simple, their thinking would be in the right direction.
Mansoori said according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (pbuh), no man was superior to others on account of colour and caste. He said respect for humanity should be promoted to eradicate prejudices. He said education was a long term solution to social. Unfortunately, it had not been given due importance in the manifestoes of political parties. He stressed the need to improve primary education. He said the media was more independent in Pakistan than in any other country’s.
Rajivlochan said social discrimination was a complicated problem. He said Dr Ambredkar had convinced his over 250 colleagues from the upper class to legislate for the rights of underprivileged people. He said low castes in India were now inclining towards education.
Manjula Paradeep said: “We want to resolve issues without anger and bloodshed.” She said many social activists had been killed for raising voice for social rights.
She said unfortunately, there were so many layers of sub-castes among Dalits (untouchables). She said education, not religion or caste empowered people.
Dr Paramjit Singh said racism also existed in countries like the United States. He said: “The constitutions of our countries provide social rights to people, but, practically, they are deprived of many of these rights.” He said: “Dr Ambredkar had given us the lesson of ‘organise, educate and agitate’.”
Later, Prof Kamran presented souvenirs to Mahmood and Indian delegates.
Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2013.