Intellectual
Discourse on Human Values, Dharma and Politics 

Let’s
appreciate the social significance of every being in this world. Efforts of
co-existing in society, sharing love, giving respect, developing an
understanding for the protection of every being are our human values. They need
strengthening owing to the changing nature of existence itself.

Practicing
these very principles is our dharma which should be our way of life. How we
think, how we conduct ourselves and what we practice all is the part of our
dharma. Hence, Our Dharma should seek to live a significant life and add values
to the society we are born in.

Politics is
to frame policies of ensuring the co-existence, governance, discipline and
helping realize the aims, objectives and philosophy of human values. It has
both preventive and punitive aspects while running a family, society, nation or
the world itself.

We need to
bear in mind all the time that we can give life to somebody but we can’t take
anyone’s life. Giving life to someone is our privilege to protect the process
of God’s creation. While taking it back is against Godly principles.

Protecting
human life is saving human values. Taking someone’s life is not only against
nature but also a heinous and unpardonable crime that everybody would agree to
pooh-pooh it. However, there are some people around the world who appear to be
bloodthirsty of each other. They often elbow down each other to take advantage.

To raise the
human values is to create a congenial environment of living together with a
bonding not only to survive and sustain but to evolve to a higher possibility.
Being inclusive and giving a better place to our future generations to live,
while driving out malice both from the self and society must be supreme. Thus,
thanks to our dharma of humanity, we can connect ourselves to God.  Serving the humanity is serving God.

Ensuring the
existence of human life is creating a society of living together. Creating an
infrastructure for the same and ensuring good governance and justice to all
should be the aim and objective of politics.

However, the
politics of the day is in poor shape. The meaning of politics has been
distorted to suit a particular class of people who want to rule but shy away
from taking their true responsibilities.

It is a big
concern. How a new definition of politics has sneaked into our system. Gaining
power by hook or by crook has become the new definition of politics. The basic
essence of framing policies for the betterment of the nation and society has
taken a back- seat. Befooling others, telling lies and spreading rumors seem to
characterize politics practiced these days. However, politics should mean that
the national interest is above personal gains and interest. Probity should be
an essential part of political affairs.

It is an
open secret how mercenaries, scandals, deceit, disruption, etc are used to
finish a person for a personal gain. Those in the power are so intoxicated that
they forget that nothing is permanent in this world. They neglect the real
objectives of politics for their personal gains. The blame game has become the
order of the day. Misleading, not leading has become the practice of shrewd
politicians. We hardly find statesmen and visionaries in today’s political
circle.  

Thus, human
values are at stake. We need to acknowledge the fact that everyone and
everything in this universe is different and have their own value for
existence.  God has made each of us is
unique with varied thumb impressions. Hence, 
we are expected to do something unique. Each of us needs to ask what
values we are going to add to this world while acknowledging the value of
others.

I believe if
we begin to ask ourselves we can find the answer to the question on our own. We
will begin to understand human values. We would learn to appreciate everything
and everyone around us. Being human is to be able to observe and act
consciously. We need to seek the ideal balance between diversity and unity of
our thoughts, understandings and actions. There must be a reconciliation
between our actions and thoughts

Our dharma
is not only to perform our duties but to ensure that we stand out against the
evil forces that try to bring disharmony and work against the well-being of
society and nation with malice in their minds.

Recognition
of uniqueness of everyone will strengthen our view. Whether it is the Ramayana,
the Gita, the Quran or the Bible, the spirit is the same- do unto others as you
would have them do unto you.

Hence, our
education policy needs revisiting. It is the education that transforms us into
valuable beings. Our direction towards setting things right should begin from
home, educational institutions and public life. That would be the first step
towards instilling human values, clean politics and upholding one’s dharma.
Charity begins at home. Let’s clean our home first and the surroundings.

( Above  is the excerpt from the speech delivered by Dr. Birbal Jha National discourse on ‘the role of religion and politics in the context of human values in the present era’  which was organized by the ‘Ultimate Educational Vocational and Social Welfare Association’ on 28th December 2019 at the Constitution Club of India, Delhi with the aim of raising human values across the country. )

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