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The State was required to conform to this rule of Raja Dharma and secure happiness of the people. Moreover, being the most important and comprehensive human right, the Right to Happiness included every kind of right the fulfillment of which leads to happiness. And therefore, declaration of this Right as a basic human right is rather, a mark of distinction of the Bharatiya values of human rights.<ref name=":0" />

The State was required to conform to this rule of Raja Dharma and secure happiness of the people. Moreover, being the most important and comprehensive human right, the Right to Happiness included every kind of right the fulfillment of which leads to happiness. And therefore, declaration of this Right as a basic human right is rather, a mark of distinction of the Bharatiya values of human rights.<ref name=":0" />

===Right to Equality===

===Right to Equality===

Right to equality [Samanta] is perhaps the most valuable right, without which happiness is impossible. Unjust discrimination always results in misery and unhappiness to those discriminated against. The Vedas which constitute the primordial source of Dharma declared charter of equality (Samanata).

Right to equality (Samanata) is perhaps the most valuable right, without which happiness is impossible. Because, unjust discrimination always results in misery and unhappiness to those discriminated against. Hence, the Vedas which constitute the primordial source of Dharma declared the charter of equality. It is found incorporated in the Rigveda, the most ancient of the Vedas, and also in the Atharvanaveda as follows:

It is found incorporated in the Rigveda, the most ancient of the Vedas, and also in the Atharvanaveda. They are worth quoting.<blockquote>अज्येष्ठासो अकनिष्ठास एते सं भ्रातरो वावृधुः सौभगाय ॥५॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 60]</ref> ''ajyeṣṭhāso akaniṣṭhāsa ete saṁ bhrātaro vāvr̥dhuḥ saubhagāya ॥5॥''</blockquote>“No one is superior (ajyestasa) or inferior (akanishtasa). All are brothers (ete bhrataraha). All should strive for the interests of all and should progress collectively.” (sowbhagaya sam va vridhuhu). (Rigveda- Mandala-5, Sukta-60, Mantra-5).<blockquote>सङ्गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम् । ''saṅgacchadhvaṁ saṁ vadadhvaṁ saṁ vo manāṁsi jānatām ।''</blockquote>“Oh human beings, all of you should, Live together with mutual cooperation, Converse with each other in a friendly manner, Acquire knowledge having common ideals of life.”<blockquote>समानो मन्त्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम् । ''saṅgacchadhvaṁ saṁ vadadhvaṁ saṁ vo manāṁsi jānatām ।''</blockquote>“All your prayer and desires be similar and for common good, All your get-togethers be without separatist feeling. All of you be united in thought, word and deed.”<blockquote>समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः । समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति ॥४॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 191].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>“Let there be oneness in your resolutions, hearts and minds. Let the strength to live with mutual cooperation be firm in you all.” [Rigveda-Mandala- 10, Sukta-191, Mantra-4]

The Rigveda says that no one is superior or inferior. All are brothers. All should strive for the interests of all and should progress collectively. <blockquote>अज्येष्ठासो अकनिष्ठास एते सं भ्रातरो वावृधुः सौभगाय ॥५॥<ref>Rgveda, Mandala 5, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%AB.%E0%A5%AC%E0%A5%A6 Sukta 60]</ref> ''ajyeṣṭhāso akaniṣṭhāsa ete saṁ bhrātaro vāvr̥dhuḥ saubhagāya ॥5॥''</blockquote>It emphasized that all human beings should live together with mutual cooperation, converse with each other in a friendly manner and acquire knowledge having common ideals of life.<blockquote>सङ्गच्छध्वं सं वदध्वं सं वो मनांसि जानताम् । ''saṅgacchadhvaṁ saṁ vadadhvaṁ saṁ vo manāṁsi jānatām ।''</blockquote>It declared that all prayers and desires be similar and for common good, all get-togethers be without separatist feeling. That, all should be united in thought, word and deed.<blockquote>समानो मन्त्रः समितिः समानी समानं मनः सह चित्तमेषाम् । ''saṅgacchadhvaṁ saṁ vadadhvaṁ saṁ vo manāṁsi jānatām ।''</blockquote>The prayer was for oneness in resolutions, hearts and minds; for firm strength to live with mutual cooperation.<blockquote>समानी व आकूतिः समाना हृदयानि वः । समानमस्तु वो मनो यथा वः सुसहासति ॥४॥<ref>Rigveda, Mandala 10, [https://sa.wikisource.org/wiki/%E0%A4%8B%E0%A4%97%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%B5%E0%A5%87%E0%A4%A6%E0%A4%83_%E0%A4%B8%E0%A5%82%E0%A4%95%E0%A5%8D%E0%A4%A4%E0%A4%82_%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%A6.%E0%A5%A7%E0%A5%AF%E0%A5%A7 Sukta 191].</ref></blockquote><blockquote>''samānī va ākūtiḥ samānā hr̥dayāni vaḥ । samānamastu vō manō yathā vaḥ susahāsati ॥4॥''</blockquote>Similarly, the verse in Atharvanaveda declared that all have equal rights over natural resources like food and water and all were equally important like the spokes in a wheel and should live together with harmony supporting one another.<blockquote>समानी प्रपा सह वोन्नभागः | समाने योक्त्रे सह वो युनज्मि | अराः नाभिमिवाभितः || (Atharvanaveda – Samjnana Sukta)</blockquote><blockquote>''samānī prapā saha vonnabhāgaḥ | samāne yoktre saha vo yunajmi | arāḥ nābhimivābhitaḥ ||''</blockquote>Thus, the right to equality of all human beings has been declared in the Vedas, which were regarded as unalterable. It is seen that both the Rigveda and the Atharvanaveda declared cooperation between individuals as necessary for happiness and progress. It is equally interesting to refer to the contents of Article 1 and Article 7 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights that says,  

"All are equal before law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”

 

Evidently, this declaration made in 1948 is similar to the declaration of equality made in Rigveda from times immemorial. Therefore, it is of utmost importance to note that right to equality was made a part of “Dharma” long before even the State came to be established.<ref name=":0" />

 

 

 

All are equal before law and are entitled without any discrimination to equal protection of the law. All are entitled to equal protection against any discrimination in violation of this Declaration and against any incitement to such discrimination.”

 

(This declaration made in 1948 is similar to the declaration of equality made in Rigveda from times immemorial.)

===Right to Education===

===Right to Education===

Mahabharata ordains that every individual should discharge four pious obligations. They were towards the Creator, (Devaruna), the Parents (Pritraruna), the Teachers (Rishiruna) and Humanity (Manava Runa).

Mahabharata ordains that every individual should discharge four pious obligations. They were towards the Creator, (Devaruna), the Parents (Pritraruna), the Teachers (Rishiruna) and Humanity (Manava Runa).