Mysuru:  Come rain or shine, it is the pomp, pageant, tradition, culture, heritage and now social inclusiveness that has marked over 400 years of Dasara celebrations in Mysuru. However, this year the State and the District Administration has walked the extra mile to give the whole event an intellectual touch.

Hence, for the first time in the history of Dasara, probably as a prelude to the upcoming elections, a two-day national seminar on a topic that is very present has been organised by the District Administration titled – Constitution-Democracy-Equality: Karnataka A Role Model.

Inaugurating the seminar, Chief Justice of Karnataka High Court, Justice Subhro Kamal Mukherjee, at Senate Bhavan, Manasagangothri campus, here this morning, addressing a packed hall said, “Karnataka’s pioneering experiment with Panchayat Raj reform in the 1980s sparked the 73rd Amendment of Constitution and the continuing wave of devolutions in finance and power trickled down to the grass-root level of administration.”

He said that this emphasis on technology-led growth, coupled with local government reform is, at least in theory, a singularly innovative strategy to address the challenge of generating growth with equity and can be described as the “Karnataka model” of development.

Lauding the efforts of the District Administration in organising a national seminar he said that seminars like these are the gateways to knowledge and knowledge is power.

Dwelling at length on what the Constitution of the country is, Justice Mukherjee said, “A Constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents, according to which, a State or other organisation is governed. The Constitution of India is the supreme law of India. It is the longest written  Constitution of any sovereign country in the world.”

According to Justice Mukherjee, the basic feature of the Constitution is to protect the fundamental and human rights and universal adult franchise should be followed to elect a representative.

“The Indian Constitution recognises every person as equal. No person can be discriminated against based on their religion, race, caste, and place of birth or gender. In our country the principle of equality of all persons is recognised,” he said.

Highlighting on the Right to Equality, he said that it is one of the principal guarantees of the Constitution. It is embodied in Articles 14, 15 and 16, which collectively encompass the general principles of equality  before law and non-discrimination. Articles 17 and 18 collectively encompass further the philosophy of social equality.

Stressing on how Karnataka has emerged as a role model in the country, Justice Mukherjee said, “The government has introduced various schemes and plans to be implemented in Karnataka as role model both in public and private sectors, such as education, industrial development, infrastructure and healthcare.” “Thus, Karnataka has always given a platform for one to live peacefully, coordinating with the society, a stage for one to perform and establish a reputation for an individual, and a society that enables progression in the fastest route possible,” he added.

Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Prof. Gopal Guru, a well-known Dalit thinker, delivering the keynote address said, “Parivarthan and Pravarthan are the two words that Dr. B.R. Ambedkar stressed. The Democracy that the architect of the Constitution envisaged stands on his philosophy of harmony, equality, social responsibility.”

He said that Ashok Chakra that was taken by the teachings of Buddha that influenced Dr. Ambedkar. The wheel represents unstoppable continuous progress day and night. But unless the downtrodden, the Dalits, women, Adivasis get equality, equality will remain a mere slogan. And, holding a national seminar during Dasara, which is a celebration of social inclusion as it is a State festival, is very apt, he said.

District Minister Dr. H.C. Mahadevappa, in his Presidential address said, “It is very appropriate that a two-day National seminar is being held for the first time as part of Dasara as it is the duty of every citizen to protect it as Ambedkar had emphasised.”

University of Mysore in-charge VC Prof. Dayanand Mane also spoke. Dasara Special Officer D. Randeep welcomed. Food and Civil Supplies Senior Deputy Director Dr. K. Rameshwarappa proposed a vote of thanks.

Nearly 1,200 delegates including Judges, law students, members of Bar Association and advocate fraternity were present. There was a mad scramble for registration at the counter.