Human Rights in Ancient India

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UNIT I: ANCIENT AND MEDIEVAL INDIA I Structure 1.0 1.1 1.2 Objectives Introduction Our Heritage in Ancient times 1.2.1 Vedic References 1.2.2 Buddhism 1.2.3 Jainism 1.2.4 Lokayata 1.2.5 Ashoka 1.3 Our Heritage in Medieval Times 1.3.1 Medieval Rulers 1.3.2 Bhakti and Sufi Saints and Their Contributions 1.4 1.5 1.6 1.0 Environmentalist Tradition ' Let Us Sum Up Answers to Check Your Progress Exercises OBJECTIVES After reading this Unit you would get an idea about the nature of India's cultural heritage, elements of tolerance and harmony in Ancient India, the contributions made during the medieval period of India's history towards a human rights perspective, the role of movements like Bhakti and Sufi in shaping a human right perspective, ? a concern for environment in Indian tradition, and the relevance of India's tradition and heritage for a human right perspective. 1.1 INTRODUCTION The question of establishing the relationship between human rights education and Indian historical tradition is a complex one. The concept of human rights is of a recent, post-Second World War origin. It specifically laid down a concern and emancipation of the individual as a cornerstone of any human right activity. The idea of equality of all individuals has fed directly into a human rights perspective. Individualism as a doctrine itself is a purely modem idea. Therefore, if you want to look at India's traditional heritage as a possible source of inspiration for a human rights perspective today, a superficial investigation may not yield much. Such a search is neither easy nor possible. It would be imperative to dissect and dismantle the concept of human rights and to take out the constitutive elements that make the whole. It should the? he possible to go back to the Indian tradition and identify those elements that
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