Changes

The Indian Constitution confers the fundamental right to all to practice any religion of their choice. In the ancient times, this basic human right was sought to be protected by incorporating a specific rule in Raja Dharma to the effect that the State was under a duty to protect every religion without discrimination. The Narada Smrti states that the Raja is required to give equal protection not only to believers in the Supreme Being or Vedas, but also disbelievers. That is the width of freedom of thought, belief and faith recognised as the basic human right in Bharata, as part of Raja Dharma which is secularism par excellence.<ref name=":0" />

The Indian Constitution confers the fundamental right to all to practice any religion of their choice. In the ancient times, this basic human right was sought to be protected by incorporating a specific rule in Raja Dharma to the effect that the State was under a duty to protect every religion without discrimination. The Narada Smrti states that the Raja is required to give equal protection not only to believers in the Supreme Being or Vedas, but also disbelievers. That is the width of freedom of thought, belief and faith recognised as the basic human right in Bharata, as part of Raja Dharma which is secularism par excellence.<ref name=":0" />

* '''Right to Social Security'''

* '''Right to Social Security'''

All individuals do not possess the capacity or resources to lead a happy life. Many individuals suffer from abject poverty, want of education or earning capacity, physical or mental deformity, disease, old age, loss of earning member of the family etc. But all such individuals have the basic human right to happiness. This right is sought to be protected by creating duty in individuals on whom they depend as also on the State. Mahabharata verse which declared rules of “Dharma” included the duty of an individual to maintain his dependents.<blockquote>अक्रोधः सत्यवचनं संविभागः क्षमा तथा । प्रजनः स्वेषु दारेषु शौचमद्रोह एव च ॥१२.५९.९॥ आर्जवं भृत्यभरणं नवैते सार्ववर्णिकः ।<ref>Mahabharata, Shanti Parva, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%AE%E0%A4%B9%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%AD%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%B0%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%AE%E0%A5%8D-12-%E0%A4%B6%E0%A4%BE%E0%A4%82%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%BF%E0%A4%AA%E0%A4%B0%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5-059 Adhyaya 59]</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''akrodhaḥ satyavacanaṁ saṁvibhāgaḥ kṣamā tathā । prajanaḥ sveṣu dāreṣu śaucamadroha eva ca ॥12.59.9॥ ārjavaṁ bhr̥tyabharaṇaṁ navaite sārvavarṇikaḥ ।''</blockquote>“Truthfulness, to be free from anger, sharing wealth with others, (Samvibhaga) forgiveness, procreation of children from one’s wife alone [sexual morality] purity, absence of enmity, straightforwardness, maintaining persons dependent on oneself are the nine rules of Dharma of persons belonging to all the varnas. [M.B. Shantiparva, Ch, 60-7-8]

All individuals do not possess the capacity or resources to lead a happy life. Many individuals suffer from abject poverty, want of education or earning capacity, physical or mental deformity, disease, old age, loss of earning member of the family etc. But all such individuals have the basic human right to happiness. This right is sought to be protected by creating duty in individuals on whom they depend as also on the State.  

It may be noticed that the duty to share the wealth with others [Samvibhaga] as also the duty to maintain one’s dependents [Brithya bharanam] are declared as the rules of Dharma. This perhaps is the best form of social security provided in Bharatiya civilization and culture, without throwing any burden on the State. This duty was rooted in the two basic values of life namely selflessness and sacrifice.

The Mahabharata verse which declared rules of “Dharma” included in itself ''saṁvibhāga'' (sharing wealth with others) and ''bhr̥tyabharaṇa'' (the duty of an individual to maintain his dependents). Thus, instead of throwing the entire burden of social security on the exchequer (royal or national treasury), it is delineated to be borne by the earning member of a family. This duty, rooted in the two basic values of life namely selflessness and sacrifice, is perhaps is the best form of social security recognised and provided as a human right in Bharatiya civilization and culture.<ref name=":0" />

 

The provision on this aspect in the Universal Declaration of Human Rights is Article 22, which reads:

 

“Every one as a member of society, has the right to ‘social security and is entitled to realization, through national effort and international cooperation and in accordance with the organization and resources of each State, of the economic, social and cultural rights indispensable for his dignity and the free development of his personality.”

 

Thus, right to social security as a human right recognised in Bharatiya Culture holds good for all times and to the entire — humanity. But, the special feature was instead of throwing the entire burden of social security on the exchequer (royal or national treasury), it has to be borne by the earning member of a family.<ref name=":0" />

* '''Right to humane treatment in custody and in prison'''

* '''Right to humane treatment in custody and in prison'''

Protection of human rights even when a person was —apprehended by public servants for offences alleged to have been committed by him or even after conviction and sentenced to undergo imprisonment was also envisaged.  

Protection of human rights even when a person was —apprehended by public servants for offences alleged to have been committed by him or even after conviction and sentenced to undergo imprisonment was also envisaged.