The rights of minorities to culture that is specific to their way of life and the duty of the State to protect minority rights were in focus at a national conference on ‘Peace and Harmony: India and Canada,’ organised by the UGC Area Study Centre for Canadian Studies, University of Kerala, here on February 17 and 18.
The conference, organised to celebrate the silver jubilee of the Centre for Canadian Studies, was supported by the University of Kerala, UGC, and the Shastri Indo-Canadian Institute, New Delhi, and spanned five sessions.
“Collective rights of a cultural community cannot be reduced to or stem from individual rights to culture. In order to render the right to culture meaningful, it is important that a supportive social and political environment is instituted to enable the culture to flourish… [In India], the constitutional pact with the minorities was the product of history, and certainly a historical pact has to be accorded respect,” said Hyderabad NALSAR University of Law Vice Chancellor Faizan Mustafa.
Dominic Marcotte, Consul et directeur, Consulat general du Canada, Bureau du Quebec a Mumbai, inaugurated the conference. Kerala University pro-vice chancellor N. Veeramanikandan chaired the inaugural session. Dr. Jameela Begum, founder director of the Centre for Canadian Studies, delivered the silver jubilee lecture.
Centre director B. Hariharan welcomed the participants. Lal C.A. from the School of Distance Education, University of Kerala, proposed a vote of thanks.
