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This is an archive article published on December 28, 2022
We face most vehement divisions now: Former CJI
Says people don’t see themselves as one humanity
Referring to emergencies, including the Covid pandemic, the former CJI said that the necessity of service mentality becomes more relevant during emergencies. (File)
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We face most vehement divisions now: Former CJI
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Former Chief Justice of India NV Ramana on Tuesday said that people are no longer viewing themselves as part of one humanity and despite the wonderful quality of life, we are facing the most vehement divisions, which are breaking apart societies.
He was speaking at “Vicharan Day: Celebrating Pramukh Swami Maharaj’s Spiritual Travels” at the celebrations of the birth centenary of former chief of Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS), Pramukh Swami, in Ahmedabad.
Taking about the life of Pramukh Swami, Ramana said, “Celebrating the birth and life of such an enlightened soul is appropriate and necessary, particularly in the world we are living today… We are living in a time when people have a wonderful quality of life through tremendous progress in science and technology… yet, it is in this moment that we are facing the most vehement divisions, which are breaking apart societies across the world.”
Attributing a reason, the former CJI said, “People are no longer viewing themselves as part of an organic whole, part of one community, one humanity. This needs to change.”
Adding that during the independence movement, it was on December 27 that the Indian National Anthem was sung for the first time in the Calcutta session of the Indian National Congress in 1911, Ramana said, “It is an anthem about the unity of India, about the oneness of the people of this great country… The feeling of being part of a broader society… is something that we Indians and many other Asian societies feel proud of.”
Referring to emergencies, including the Covid pandemic, the former CJI said that the necessity of service mentality becomes more relevant during emergencies. “When the state infrastructure was overwhelmed, civil society, NGOs and organisations such as BAPS rose to fill the gaps,” he added.
Advising that children should be brought up in an environment where they can see their parents and guardians practise a service-oriented mindset, Ramana said, “Unless there is peace and harmony in society, we cannot make the best use of our wealth and assets, both individual and national.”
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Asking the media to report responsibly, the former CJI stated, “As a society, we need to move away from those who attempt to create disharmony in society and broaden divisions in the name of specific identities. The media has a role to play in this endeavour. They need to report responsibly and not sensationalise news to gain attention and viewers.”
RS Sodhi, Managing Director of Amul, and Meenesh Shah, Chairman of National Dairy Development Board (NDDB), were also present. According to them, “BAPS, Amul and NDDB will work for the social and financial upliftment of ordinary people, villagers and farmers”.
Swami Ramdev Maharaj, Yogacharya of the Patanjali Yog Peeth, former Union minister Praful Patel, former Karnataka governor Vajubhai Vala, MLA and chief whip of BJP Gujarat, Balkrishna Shukla, and Union Minister of Business and Commerce Piyush Goyal were present.
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