Delhi and Paris: A tale of two cities (Human rights have a long way to go)

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Delhi and Paris: A tale of two cities (Human rights have a long way to go)

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• UDHR, 1948: The UN General Assembly met in Paris and proclaimed the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR). Hansa Mehta from India, sent by Nehru to represent India in the drafting exercise, brought a distinctive feminism to that exercise.
• First change: The Article 1 read "All men are born free and equal in dignity and rights". Hansa Mehta intervened to have it changed to "All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights". Chair of the drafting committee Eleanor Roosevelt applauded.
• Post-Hitler, Post-Hirosima world: The UN delegates from 58 nations (10 abstaining - USSR, Saudi Arabia, South Africa etc.) must have seen that such a document will run into lot of practical difficulties later. The year 2018 is the 70th anniversary of UDHR, called UDHR70.
• The same Paris, now burning: In 2018, that very venue - Paris - has seen a mass uprising of citizens on issues of dignity, justice and equality. This is a remarkable and most unanticipated development, and indicate some deeper issues.
• Macron shaken: The "Yellow Vest" Paris riots have shaken President Macron's government through the immediate trigger of fuel price hikes. The proposed postponement is not acceptable, only a cancellation will do!
• Situation in Delhi: As Paris burned, Delhi saw farmer anger on its streets, led by the brave spokesman of Dalits and farmers, P Sainath. Demanding farm loan waivers and decent MSP commitments to be honoured, they wanted a dedicated Parliament session on it.  (3 lakh suicides in 20 years)
• Paris and Delhi: Language seems same at both places - if factories get tax cuts and investments, farms are facing diesel hikes and no MSP guarantees. That impacts Article 23 of UDHR "Everyone who works has a right to just and favourable remuneration ensuring dignity".
• UDHR under strain: Globally, because governments are laws unto themselves and due to UDHR being voluntary and not binding, the document's vision is under strain. Law-makers and conscience-keepers are not together on the same plane.
• No dissent please: China, Brazil, India, Egypt, Turkey, and US - all curb dissent. Myanmar throws out its own Rohingyas, violating Article 14. Pakistan violates Article 18 by hounding Asia Bibi.
• Terrorism and torture: Right to life is mutilated due to terrorism, and harms the common citizens and security forces alike. India signed the UN Convention Against Torture (when PM was I.K.Gujral). India did not ratify it later, though (till date).
• Meaning of that: Is the State thinking that torture is an intrinsic right that it cannot give up? Accusations about the government acquiring land for a "detention camp" in Golapara, Assam have been rejected, but the sheer prospect of such ethnic ghettoing is terrible.
• Human rights violations: India witnesses it with impunity - sedition cases, dissenters killed, whistle-blowers harassed, manual scavenging continues and kills, child marriages live on, female foetuses are murdered regularly, and so on.
• Rapes and murders: They continue unabated, from Nirbhaya to Kathua, and beheading of Dalit individuals!
• The rainbow of hope: India has many reasons to hope for a better future. 
1. Judiciary - The SC's position on "right to privacy" is remarkable. Extension of NRC deadline in Assam is good. Madras HC's order (Perumal Murugan case) upholding the author's right to write is as per UDHR norms. 
2. Parliament - It gave us the RTI. 
3. Media - It still has a small section that will not be scared or scorned. 
4. Security Personnel - They protect us. 
5. Human rights activists - They protect our liberty. 
6. Creative cultural icons - They won't surrender their autonomy.
7. Constitution of India - The legacy of Ambedkar 
8. Elections - Voice of the people (vox populi) which gives strength to the silent majority's peaceable wisdom

• Let rights live: In 1948, rights were liberated from the state and social shackles. It must always remain so.
• Summary : The 70th anniversary of UDHR at Paris is a time to reflect upon the road travelled so far, and the unfinished agenda.
  

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