All-inclusive society: Supreme Court Justice Maheswari

New Delhi : Justice J.K. Maheshwari of India’s Supreme Court asked citizens to contribute to the creation of a genuinely inclusive country.

Justice Maheswari was the main speaker at a Jamia Hamdard and the Global Dialogue Forum  think tank-organized seminar on “Diversity and Conformity — Defining India.”

He emphasised the importance of the Indian Constitution’s preservation of diverse principles, adding that it can only be perpetuated via inclusion.

“In my opinion, the way forward to achieve the ends of social inclusion is not possible unless we on an individual level contribute towards a truly inclusive society,” he told the audience.

He said that in order to create a socially inclusive society, empathy, bias, and diversity must be fostered.

He stressed that India’s Constitution is a magnificent tribute to unity in diversity and inclusion.  “It encapsulates the vision of its framers to build a nation that respects and embraces its rich cultures, languages, religions, and traditions,” he wrote.

“In theory, India possesses all of the components required for a society to become completely inclusive while promoting positive diversity.” “Are we, however, truly a socially inclusive society?” The question was posed by Justice Maheshwari.

He said that in the World Economic Forum’s (WEF) recent ‘Inclusive Development Index (IDI), 2020,’ India placed 62nd out of 74 developing nations and was among the least inclusive countries in the Group of 20 (G20). India did not make it into the top ten most inclusive emerging and developing economies, but neighbours Nepal, China, and Sri Lanka created a name for themselves, he noted.

“In view of the said position of our nation, in my opinion, the way forward to achieve the ends of social inclusion is not possible unless we on an individual level contribute towards a truly inclusive society” , said the president.

In his Presidential Address, Professor Afshar Alam, Vice Chancellor of Jamia Hamdard, said that the people of India faced the difficulty of finding the correct balance between recognising diversity and creating a national identity.

“We must recognise that diversity is not a threat to our unity, but rather a source of strength.” “It is what makes us resilient, innovative, and adaptable,” remarked Professor Alam.

In his talk, Moses Manoharan, Chairman of the Global Dialogue Forum, emphasised the contemporary significance of diversity and conformity throughout the globe, as people battled to understand what brought them together while retaining their distinct identities.

“The struggle encompasses distinct ethicalities, gender, and lifestyles,” Mr. Manoharan said.

In his Valedictory Address, Mr. Iqbal Singh Lalpura, Chairman of the National Minorities Commission, urged for a better awareness of system deficiencies.

How can we affect change in the system? We can make a difference if we grasp the gaps. Instead than discussing religion, he advocated for its celebration. “Let us rejoice in our differences. “I will not demand that diversity become unity,” he continued.