Historian expresses concern over growing inequalities

Hyderabad: Eminent historian Ramachandra Guha here on Saturday expressed his concerns over inequalities in the society.

Delivering the key-note address as chief guest at the 17th Convocation of the NALSAR University of Law, Guha said India needed to approach the question in three-ways, namely 'equality before god,' 'equality before law' and 'equality in Social Practices.'

He recalled what Gopalakrishna Gokhale had said during early 1900s when he called for ending discrimination. The noted historian paid rich tributes to the father of the nation, Mahatma Gandhi, who had participated in social movements to ensure entry of Dalits into temples in the 1920s and 1930s.

He also paid rich tributes to Sri Narayana Guru and emphasised the need for highlighting his contributions to the cause of Dalit emancipation beyond the State of Kerala. Guha also emphasised the need for having gender equality and remarked that hopefully there would be more women vice-chancellors.

Acknowledging the rich scholarly contributions of NALSAR, Guha expressed satisfaction that NALSAR was not only giving importance to undergraduate teaching of law but also paying considerable attention to scholarly research and reflected in the quality of publications that came out of the University.

K K Venugopal, Attorney General of India, who was conferred LLD (Honoris Causa) of the University in his acceptance speech, also appreciated the quality of legal education at NALSAR and expressed the hope that NALSAR students would meaningfully contribute to nation-building efforts.

Prof Faizan Mustafa, Vice-Chancellor of NALSAR, who presented the Annual Report of the University, in his parting advice to the students, asked them to have empathy for the people who were being subjected to injustices.

He also urged the graduating students to strengthen and celebrate India's pluralism. He asked students to dream big and to overcome their own fears and also to ensure that no other Indian is put under any other kind of fear.

Justice Raghavendra S Chauhan, Chief Justice of the High Court for the State of Telangana and Chancellor NALSAR, presided over the conferral of the degrees and diplomas to the graduating students.

Sadhika Gulati secured the highest number of 15 gold medals out of the 49 gold medals awarded this year to the students of BA, LLB. (Hons), LLM., MBA. and PG Diploma in Cyber Law courses taken together. Four Gold Medals have been awarded to Neha Shivhare and Michael Mathew. R Lakshana and Sailender Reddy have been awarded three Gold Medals each.

A total of 380 degrees and diplomas were awarded to the graduating students of NALSAR this year.