“If society is a just society, if it is one which places a premium on social justice and human rights, then racism and intolerance cannot survive.”- Bayard Rustin
In one of the largest democracies of the world, the concept of social justice is intrinsic to the constitution of India, for the interest of the people. The idea is a commitment and vision guaranteed by the constitution through the Preamble. It is the obligation of the state to ensure the securing of a social order which safeguards justice for all, irrespective of any disability or by any other reason. Dr. B.R Ambedkar, a visionary, was the flag bearer of this notion. He dedicated his life to the establishment of an egalitarian society, free from the evils of caste system. His progressive foresight has enabled the Indian legal and political system to assimilate the value of social justice within itself.
It would not be false to claim that social justice is the foundation stone of Indian constitution. Social justice is not a blind concept; it denotes extending an equal treatment to all citizens of the country, barring discrimination on any basis. Absence of privileges to any particular section of the society falls within the ambit of this conceptual theory. Most importantly, it also encompasses the development and improvement of the conditions of backward classes: SC’s, ST’s, OBC’s as well as women and children. The foremost question that arises here is, what is actually social justice?
The word social relates to human beings; members of community, of society. The word justice correlates with equality and liberty while ensuring rights and opportunities for every member of the society. It is the vision and mission of the constitution of India. ( NCERT. (2010). Social justice. In Political theory.)
This concept has materialized through the evolution of law, order, norms, rules, regulations and rights. Rooted in the belief of social good, social justice has a dynamic nature and modifies itself according to the ever-changing requirements of the society. In the most basic sense, this concept encompasses the equalization of opportunities for the advancement of society as well as individuals without any inequity on the gender, regional, religional or caste basis. At the same time, in quite a pragmatic sense, it also implies convening people from all sections and strata of the society on an identical standing.
Social justice deals with the victims of exploitation, abuse and oppression. While dealing with myriad facets of human life and society, it simultaneously fixates its attention on the safeguarding of the rights of the oppressed, depressed and the marginalised. It also appraises the rights, rituals, customs and practises which are responsible for the infliction of injustice on a particular stratum of the society. This notion is a manoeuvring one, while donning on the face of a gauging and a calculating one at the same time. It is energetic and progressive since it scrutinises the dynamic, ever changing circumstances of the society and advocates for the nullification of unjustified customs and traditions to promote the well-being of the people improving the conditions of the weaker section of the society.
Social justice is the explicit output of the social injustice in the Indian society. This concept is applicable to not just opportunities and rights but wealth, advantages, assets and privileges as well. Being a liberal and a revolutionary concept, it embodies not only social but economic justice as well. Unavailability of social justice and lack of opportunities might lead to civil disproportion and unrest, leading to chaos and hostility and even disobedience of law. It is a harsh reality that even after seventy three years of independence, it is still an unachievable and out of reach dream for the masses.
Aishwarya Says:
I have always been against Glorifying Over Work and therefore, in the year 2021, I have decided to launch this campaign “Balancing Life”and talk about this wrong practice, that we have been following since last few years. I will be talking to and interviewing around 1 lakh people in the coming 2021 and publish their interview regarding their opinion on glamourising Over Work.
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