LAHORE: (Thursday, May 02, 2013): Governor Punjab/Chancellor University of the Punjab Makhdoom Syed Ahmed Mahmood has said that love to all and hate to none should be our motto. He was addressing 8th international seminar in connection with Dr Ambredkar Day titled “Social Discrimination – Poison for Democracy” organized by Sir Ganga Ram Heritage Foundation (SGRHF) and Centre for South Asian Studies (CSAS) at Al-Raazi Hall, New Campus here on Thursday.

PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran, renowned analyst Dr Mujahid Mansoori, Chairman Evacuee Trust Property Board Chaudhry Riaz Ahmed, Dr Paramjit Singh of Guru Nanak University, Dr Rajivlochan from Chandigarh University, Indian social activist Manjula Paradeep, Director CSAS Prof Dr Umbreen Javed, Director SGHF Yousaf Irfan, faculty members and a large number of students were present on the occasion. Talking to the participants, Mr Mahmood said that South Asian countries had economically progressed but fruits of development had not been brought to the grassroots level. He said that majority of population still lived under the line of poverty and life standard of the poor should be improved. He said that we would have to eliminate all sorts of discrimination on the basis of caste, creed, colour, profession etc and provision of social equality and justice was dire need of the hour. He said that provision of rights to underprivileged segment of the society was not only a constitutional issue but that was a problem of mindset as well.

Lauding the services of Dr Ambredkar, the governor said that Dr Ambredkar was not only a thinker but devoted his whole life for his mission to provide rights to underprivileged people. He advised the students to greet the one who came to meet them by standing in respect and smile on face whether one was elder or younger, which would promote a healthy trend in our society. Dr Mujahid Kamran said that we should eliminate all types of biases and discriminations after analysis. He said that the revolution that occurred in the hearts and minds was the real revolution. He said that concentration of wealth was because of the system of usury. He said that if lifestyle of the leadership was simple, then their thinking would be on the right direction. Dr Mujahid Mansoori said that according to the teachings of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH), no man was superior to the other man on the basis of colour and cast. He said that respect of mankind should be promoted to eradicate biases and discrimination. He said that education was a long term solution to problems but unfortunately, it had not been given due importance in the manifesto of our political parties. He stressed the need to improve primary education system. He said that Pakistan’s media was more independent than any other country’s media in the world, which was a blessing of blessings. He said that media was major source of creating mass education awareness. Dr Rajivlochan said that social discrimination was a complicated problem. He said that our philosophy to abolish social discrimination was rich but we lacked standard solution.

He said that Dr Ambredkar convinced his over 250 colleagues from upper class after great efforts for making legislation for the rights of underprivileged people. He said that low castes in India were now inclining towards education, which would also be a source of social change. Manjula Paradeep said that we wanted to resolve issues without anger and bloodshed. She said that many social activists had been killed for raising voice for social rights. She said that unfortunately, there were so many layers of sub-castes among Dulits (untouchables), which was also a major problem. She said that education was the source of power, not religion or caste. Dr Paramjit Singh Judge said that racism also existed in the countries like the United States. He said that Constitution of our countries provided social rights to the people but practically they were deprived of. He said that Dr Ambredkar had given us the lesson of “organize, educate and agitate”. He said that what the government could do was to intervene when the situation was worsening. Later, PU VC Dr Mujahid Kamran presented souvenirs to Punjab Governor Makhdoom Ahmed Mahmood and Indian delegates.