DIMAPUR, APRIL 25 (MExN): The two-day National workshop on Human Rights Education with the theme “Promotion of ethics and human values” organised by Department of Political Science, Patkai Christian College (Autonomous), in collaboration with ICFAI University, Nagaland, and sponsored by the University Grants Commission (UGC) got underway today at ICFAI campus, Sovima, Dimapur.
Rev. Dr. Tuisem A. Shishak, Principal Emeritus, Patkai Christian College, was the chief guest at the inaugural function. In his speech, he quoted the American Declaration of Independence where it says, “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”
Rev. Shishak also quoted the Preamble of the US which reads, “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”
Speaking from a theological viewpoint, Rev. Shishak stated, “God created man in his image, rich and poor,” and quoted Psalms 62:9, “Surely the lowborn are but a breath, the highborn are but a lie. If weighed on a balance, they are nothing; together they are only a breath.”
Dr. Shyam Bhadra Medhi, IAS (Retd.), Human Rights Educator for NE India and one of the resource persons at the workshop, gave a short speech on the theme of the workshop. Dr. Medhi shared a brief experience as a Human Rights activist and expressed the need of such seminars for MLAs and MPs in the country.
Dr. Charles P. Alexander, Pro-Vice Chancellor, ICFAI University, delivered the welcome speech and also gave a brief concept of Human Rights. “When there is suppression, there is no room for oneness,” Dr. Alexander stated and added, “The fulfillment of one’s rights should not be at the cost of others’ rights.”
Eniro Murry, Coordinator, Human Rights Education, and Faculty, Department of Political Science, PCC, spoke on the concept of the workshop. Murry stated that the purpose of the workshop was to let students participate so that apart from their regular formal education, the workshop would contribute to their holistic development.
Sessions following the inaugural function were taken up by Dr. Medhi where he stressed on the promotion of human values vis-à-vis Human Rights and duties. The resource person also highlighted about 30 books related to Human Rights.
