Features
Bengaluru: Dr Aditya Sondhi, former Additional Advocate General of Karnataka, said here recently that for every right there was a corresponding duty. He was delivering the 18th General K.S.Thimayya Memorial Lecture at the Good Shepherd Auditorium here. Dr Sondhi was the one who initiated the idea of the General K.S.Thimayya Memorial Lecture series.
Dr Sondhi, who spoke on the Constitution and the Idea of India, said: “The judiciary can be seen as the centre of this architecture so as to ensure that none of the players cross (the rules) and the integrity of the constitution remains the same.” He added that for every right a citizen enjoys, he/she also has the duty to safeguard the same. Talking about India and its diversity, he said: “We are one because we are different. United without being the same.” Dr Sondhi also touched upon the history of Hindi imposition in the country.
Talking about the idea of India, Dr Sondhi stated: “Remission of Bilkis Bano rape accused is not the idea of India; lynching mentally-challenged individuals and branding them as child lifters is not the idea of India; believing in human sacrifice is not the idea of India; beating and killing of a Dalit boy for drinking water from common pot is not the idea of India; running bulldozers in the slums under the name of urban planning is not the idea of India; farmer’s suicide is not the idea of India; having our fellow citizens indulge in manual scavenging is not the idea of India. The idea of India is what common people aspire for, a heaven of compassion and where dignity pervades.”
Air Marshal Divakar Paul Upot, who was introduced by Timothy Franklyn, founder of National School of Journalism and Public Discourse, was presented with this year’s, General K.S.Thimayya Medal. He received his medal from General Thimayya’s grandson. Talking of his school days, Air Marshal Upot said: “My stay in Cottons (Bishop Cotton Boys School) helped me in undergoing rigorous training in the field.” He encouraged the students present at the function to join the Air Force as it is adventurous and it is a privilege to work in defence services.