Pics: Dayanand Kukkaje
Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (SB)
Mangaluru, Oct 25: "Our country is facing threats from some forces who are trying to take control of our nation. They are busy making their own laws and spreading their ideology. They do not want to be questioned. Their way of thinking is entirely different from the Constitution. Only our teachers can counter them by teaching the actual values of the Constitution to students," said Teesta Setalvad, human rights activist and secretary of Citizens for Justice and Peace.
She was speaking at the decennial college day celebrations of St Aloysius Institute of Education here on Tuesday, October 24.
Stressing on the importance of the Constitution, Setalvad said, "For three hundred years, people of different communities and religions together fought for freedom. And in 1947, we achieved which we desired. Our Constitution made our nation a democratic country. It speaks of justice, equality, fraternity. It also says India is for all, not for certain groups, religions or ideologies. Teachers should teach these things to their students and society.
"Today still 27 percent of the people think they are not eligible to come to the mainstream of the society. Millions of children are deprived of education due to poverty. The same number of children sleep with hungry stomachs. Then how can we say everything is fine here and everything is happening as per the Constitution? So our teachers need to think about these issues and teach the Constitution to the students.
"In 1948, Mahatma Gandhi was shot dead by some forces who were not in favour of our Constitution and its teachings. The same forces are still alive and they eliminated the writer and journalist Gauri Lankesh. Govind Pansare, Narendra Dabholkar and Prof Kalburgi were also eliminated by them with the intention to make this country livable for only one section of the people. Now we need to question these hate mongers. In 2008, this city was attacked (church attacks), then they attacked Kandhamal (Odisha) and now they are targeting the Taj Mahal," she said.
"Now it is our duty to educate the society. We need to become the torch bearers of the society. We do not believe in one language, one nation. Our motto is unity in diversity. It is time to renew our freedom struggle again," she concluded.
Fr Dionysius, rector of St Aloysius Institutions said, "Today the Dalits in India are suffering even more. They are still a long way from the mainstream. Some forces are indirectly preventing their development. If they try to come to the mainstream or enjoy the freedom given by the Constitution, they are crushed by physical attacks orchestrated by some. The recent attacks on Dalits indicate that caste system still deeply prevails in India. As a democratic country, Indian education system should give more importance to tackling this issue. Teachers should democratize their students with the teachings of the Constitution. We cannot see the Indian Constitution as just a book on the system of laws - It is a book of values which leads us towards peaceful and respectable life."
Teesta Setalvad was felicitated by the rector and the director of the College along with other dignitaries.
Fr Eric Mathias, the director of the College welcomed the guests and the gathering. Farita Viegas, principal of the College presented the annual report. Santhosh Furtado, staff coordinator introduced Teesta to the gathering. Rank holder students and the faculty of the college were also felicitated by the dignitaries.
Choral music and a musical drama were presented by the students as part of the cultural programme.