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RELIGIOUS PERSPECTIVES ON HUMAN RIGHTS
E-Newsletter
Vol.1 No.6
July 19, 1999
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Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is now available online at: http://www.rghr.net
Religious Perspectives on Human Rights is a weekly e-newsletter issued by Buddhist, Muslim, Catholic and Christian Groups on Human Rights, initiated by the Asian Human Rights Commission.
A Worthy Centre Celebrates its 25th
Anniversary
Tulana Centre (Sri Lanka) headed by Fr.
Alloysius Peiris, SJ, celebrated its 25th Anniversary in on 7
July this year. It was founded on 1974. The event was celebrated
in characteristically low key fashion. About 100 close friends of
the centre participated in a mass followed by lunch to mark the
occasion. We take this opportunity to express our appreciation of
the work of this centre and to express solidarity with those who
have dedicated their lives and labour to the work of the Centre.
The Centre provides a good example of how a
group people with a basically a religious motivation can
contribute positively and creatively for betterment of the
people. A catholic centre in a thick Buddhist milieu has not only
not been not resented but also positively welcomed. The Centre’s
basically open, all-inclusive approach has found an equality
positive response from the neighbours. From apologetics to
dialogue there is a long distance. Many who have been trained to
be defense do not take easily to be inclusive. Dialogue requires
generosity, willingness to learn and willingness to work out
ideas by mutual cooperation. A true dialogue then is not one of
comparing texts. For texts however sacred are dead letters. It
can come to life only through living word of living persons. When
the old word of books are lit by the candle lights of living
persons there emerges an enlightenment that nourishes every one
and enliven the nation with positive ideas. To such a process
this Centre has contributed. The Centre’s consciousness aim
may not have been to contribute to human rights and democracy.
However, the work such as what is done at this Centre, is of
fundamental contributions to genuine democracy and genuine human
rights promotion. The lay the foundation for democratic notions
and they constantly purify the living waters, which can get
contaminated if allowed to be stagnate. If people are to
cooperate as a people, the genuine human depth of the people need
to be reawaken. The divisions can only be overcome by
inclusiveness. So, there is lot to learn from this Centre’s
living experiments in truth, in a true diverse culture, where
multiple sources that can contribute to a rich discourse are
available. People who are looking for ways to come out of the
bitter conflicts that the Island Nation is faced with, has much
learn from the Centres approach to draw inspiration of nations
multiple roots.
Outside readers may want to get copies of the
publication, DIALOGUE, which brings out rich collections of
writings on various issues. Our leaders are encouraged to write
letters of appreciation to and seek further information from the
Centre.
Address:
Fr. Alloy Peiris
Tulana
Kelaniya
Sri Lanka
Dalit
Issue
In our last issue (Vol. 5) we spoke of the
Dalit issue which ranks among the worse examples of the
discrimination and cruelty in the world . We will include
reflections on this issue on a regular basis. We encourage you to
take some serious actions as part of your personal and group
agendas for promotion of human rights.
Quotes
I would like to tell you some of the
reminiscence of my childhood. There was a Marati women employed
in my school. She was herself quite illiterate but observed
untouchability and avoided touching me. One day, I remember, I
was very thirsty. I was not allowed to touch the water tap. I
told my master that I wanted to drink water. He called the peon
and asked him to turn on the tap and drink water. Whenever the
poen was absent I had to go without water. Thirsty, I had to
return home and then only I could quench my thirst."
B. R. Ambedkar
"The fundamental principle of Buddhism is
equality. Of all Bhikkhus who joined the order in the time of
Lord Buddha about 75% of the Bhikkus beloned to the Bramins caste
and the remaining 25% were Shudras. Even then Buddhism was called
the religion of thye Shudras." Here Ambedkar quotes from
Buddha:
"Oh Bhikkhus, you belong to different
castes and have come from various lands. Just as the great rivers
when they fallen into the great ocean lose their identity, just
so betheren O brotheren, do these four castes, Brahmins,
Kshatriyas, Vaishyas, Shudras when they begin to follow the
docrine and decipline as profounded by the Tathagatta, they
renounce different names of castes and rank and become members of
one and same society."
If you have not send this letter you may sent
it now.
Addresses:
Ms. Mary Robinson
High Commissioner for Human Rights
Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights
Palais des Nations
8-14 avenue de la Paix
CH 1211 Geneva 10, Switzerland
Fax number: +(41 22) 9170213
Fax: +(41 22) 917 0022 (Hotline - Human Rights)
E-mail: OHCHR Secretariate <secretariat@un.org>
Mr. Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee,
Prime Minister of India,
152 South Block
New Delhi 110 011,
India.
Fax : +(91 11) 3018906 / 3016857
Dear______,
As a human being I am very hurt to learn that
over 230 million people in India and some more in other
neighbouring countries suffer from a condition even worse than
slavery and this condition is known as Caste. That a human being
can be graded by birth, and inhuman conditions can be imposed on
him throughout his life on this basis can be called cruelty,
without any exaggeration. That this condition prevailed even up
to the last year of the twentieth century is a bad indictment on
us all. I am writing this to urge you to take all measures in
your power to eradicate this in reality. Mere legal eradication
is not enough. It is essential to take all practical measures to
bring this to an end.
Thank you.
Posted on 1999-07-19
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