Vigil India
Movement
61, Charles Campbell Road, Cox Town, Bangalore,
India
Rev.
Dr. M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award-2016 awarded to Mr. Lenin
Raghuvanshi
All humans are born
having dignity and are equal in dignity. Human dignity is inviolable and must
be respected and protected in every context. The dignity of the human person is
not only a fundamental right in itself, but it is the sum and substance of any
right to be protected and respected at all times. The Universal Declaration of
Human Rights enshrined this principle in its preamble: ‘recognition of the
inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all members of the
human family is foundation of freedom, justice and peace in world’. The ancient
sages of India, when they proclaimed the ideal of Vasudhaiva Kudumbakam – the world as One family, envisioned the
worth and value of every human being. However, the shadow of caste
discrimination and its stigma follows an individual from birth till death,
destroys the dignity and inalienable rights of millions of people in India. Caste
discrimination, which results from the hierarchical division of a society
placing inherent privileges and restrictions by birth, run contrary to the
belief that “all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights”. Mr.
Lenin Raghuvanshi, an Ayurvedic Physician by profession, has dedicated his work
over the years for protecting the rights and dignity of thousands of people who
are discriminated in the name of caste system.
Through his dedicated
work of the rights and dignity of people suffering especially in his area i.e.
child labour and bonded labour in Varanasi in Uttar Pradesh and in many parts
of northern India, Lenin Raghuvanshi has been able to initiate a culture of
changing the discourse on caste politics and bringing into focus an innovative
“people- centric” approach to reclaim human dignity of the deprived sections of a caste –ridden
society. Lenin Raghuvanshi’s vision on caste, conflict and social change took a
concrete shape while working with bonded labourers in Uttar Pradesh. Through
his deep involvement at grassroots level, he realised that instead of tampering
with the symptoms, the insensitive caste system needed to be addressed, for
which Lenin Raghuvanshi initiated a folk school which not only enabled empowerment of the oppressed, but
also endowed them with the ability to have access to justice through legal and
constitutional mechanisms of the state. As he has been leading the struggle for
the dignity and rights of the vulnerable people and communities, he became a
symbol of resistance against mindless caste domination and a crusader
protecting the rights and dignity of the marginalised and oppressed in
Varanasi.
Lenin Raghuvanshi has
also initiated a novel strategic approach in human rights education through Jan
Mitra Gaon – People – Friendly Villages aimed at creating local institutions
that work to promote basic human rights. He adopted three villages and one slum
in Varanasi as pilot projects, which includes reactivating defunct primary
schools, eradicating bonded labour system, ensuring girl child education and
promoting non – formal education.
Human rights
campaigns call for strong conviction, extreme devotion and a deep sense of
commitment not only against injustice, but also societal inertia. Lenin
Raghuvanshi has displayed all these qualities in abundant measure in successive
campaigns launched, advocated and promotes. In recognition of his sterling
contribution to the cause of protection and promotion of human rights, the Board
of Trustees of Vigil India Movement is pleased to present the M.A THOMAS
NATIONAL HUAMN RIGHTS AWARD- 2016 to Mr. Lenin Raghuvanshi and to wish him for
the success in his noble endeavours.
Justice
P.P Bopanna
Managing Trustee
Advocate K.Pratap Reddy
President
Advocate K.Pratap Reddy
President
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