Kanjivaram Venkatesan

A Study of Human Rights: an Indian Philosophical Approach: Natural Right of the Entire Human Race Kanjivaram Venkatesan

The purpose of Indian philosophy is to establish Vasudaiva Kutambakam, Sarvejanasukhino Bhavantu. So the very foundation of Indian philosophy is traced back to Vedas, Upanisads, Epics and Indian Philosophical systems in the form of the practice of human values. Human values as depicted in Indian philosophical tradition are Dharma, Artha, Kama, Moksa, Ahimsa, Satya, Brahmacharya, Asteya & Aparigraha. HRs, in Indian Philosophy, were built around human values. Both are inalienably interlinked in our tradition because the foundation for both, is moral life. Human Rights correctly understood are inseparable from positive human values. All these values are to be practiced in order to establish peace and progress at all spheres of human life and once we practice human values as depicted in our tradition, there will be no single occasion where we will violate human rights. The more we practice these values, the more we protect human rights. An attempt has been made in this thesis to study, apply, understand and interpret human values in relation to human rights in order to bring out what is consider to be proper perspective for an assessment of human rights from Indian philosophical point of view.