Dharma the Global Ethic

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About The Author Justice Dr. M. Rama Jois was born on 27th July 1931 in Araga village of Thirthahalli Taluk, Shimoga District, State of Karnataka. After securing B.Sc. and B.L. Degree from Mysore University - he was enrolled as an Advocate of Karnataka High Court in 1959. He has been very successful in the legal profession particularly in the branch of Service and Constitutional Law. He authored the book "Services under the State" which was published by the Indian Law Institute in 1974 and re-published in 1987. He was appointed Judge of Karnataka High Court in November 1977. His another book "Legal and Constitutional History of India" in two volumes which includes Ancient Indian Legal, Judicial and Constitutional Law (Vyavahara Dharma and Raja Dharma) has been subsidised by National Book Trust and published by N.M. Tripathi (P) Ltd., Bombay. The latest edition of the book has been published by Universal Law Publishing Co. Pvt. Ltd. This book has been described as a monumental work by eminent scholars and Judges in their review of the book. It has been recommended for study for the law degree course by the Bar Council of India. In May 1992, he became the Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana High Court, which post he held till his retirement. After retirement, he resumed practice as Senior Advocate in the Supreme Court and has argued in matters of National importance. He has been the Honorary Professor in National Law School of India University, Bangalore. He was awarded Naresh Chanda Sen Gupta Gold Medal by Asiatic Society, Calcutta, for outstanding contribution to the study of Society and Law, Ancient and Modern, in May 1999. He has been the Vice-President of Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore Kendra, since 1994 and President, Bharat Vikas Parishad since 1999. His article entitled "Need for Amending the Constitution" has been published in the commemorative volume of the Golden Jubilee of Lok Sabha in May 2002. Justice K. Ramaswamy has stated in his foreword to `Eternal Values in= Manusmriti' written by him thus-" he has extracted the grains of gold in Manu Smriti excluding the unwanted material, so that these values are made known and available to the Society.

He was awarded Doctor of Laws (LLD) by Kuvempu University, Shimoga, Karnataka, on March 27th 2004, for his lifetime contribution in legal and academic fields. Presently he is a Member of Parliament (Rajya Sabha).

Preface The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan had the good fortune of publishing, in 1995, "Hindu Dharma: The Universal Way of Life" by Jagadguru Sri Chandrasekharendra Saraswati Swamigal, the venerable Mahaswami of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetha. It has been widely welcomed and acclaimed by scholars, reviewers and a large number of readers of different faiths in India and abroad.

Released in India (Bombay), England (London) and America (New York) by Shri R. Venkataraman, former President of India, Chairman of the Kanchi Mahaswami Centenary Committee, and a great guide and patron of the Bhavan, the volume has already gone into two editions and a third edition is on the anvil.

We now prayfully offer "Dharma: The Global Ethic" by Justice Rama Jois as a possible companion volume to the Mahaswami's "Hindu Dharma: The Universal Way of Life."

Justice Sri M. Rama Jois, a former Chief Justice of Punjab and Haryana, has had not only a distinguished judicial career but has a well-deserved reputation as a writer on the ancient and modern legal, judicial and constitutional systems. His stupendous two-volume "Legal and Constitutional History of India" is locus classicus on the subject. Justice Jois has also other legal writings to his credit.

This is a scholarly monograph on the concept of Dharma, the basic note-aadhaarashruti - of our religion. The concepts of Dharma, Karma and Brahma constitute the tripod of Sanatana Dharma which is anaadi (beginingless), ananta (endless ) and therefore sanaatana (eternal,everlasting).

"All Dharmas are merged in Rajdharma ", Says the Mahabharatha. Yatha Raja Tatha Praja - "just as the ruler so are the people." The code of conduct prescribed by Manu for rulers and elaborated in this work deserves to be studied and practised by every elected representative of the people at all levels and, more so, by those in power.

Dharma views the whole world as One Family-Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam- living in peace and harmony. Global awareness of Dharma alone can bring global peace and harmony. Dharmorakshati rakshitah- `Dharma protects one who protects Dharma.' Dharma helps to intergrate different values in one's life; only well intentioned individuals can promote national integration and actualise the ideal of One World envisioned by the saints and sages of India from time immemorial.

We hope and pray that the Satpurushas the world over will welcome this ripe fruit of the Satkriya of a Satpurusha-Justice Rama Jois.

Introduction The twentieth century is coming to a close. The achievements of man in science during this century are astounding. The fastest conveyance by road, water and air and the fastest communication by means of the Telephones, the Radio and the Television, which were not even dreamt of in the beginning of the century have become a reality. Innumerable articles for luxurious living and securing physical enjoyment and comfort are designed, produced and manufactured. At the same time, arms and ammunition primarily intended for self-protection of nations are being manufactured and stored, and these are sufficient to destroy weak nations. Apart from this they are being used by human beings for terrorist activities, destruction of fellow human beings, hijacking of planes etc., causing misery to many. Everyday the television and news papers are full of reports of such activities. Programmes shown in the guise of entertainment on the television, are full of crimes committed with extreme violence. The abuse of sex, for commercial advertisement, for exhibiting vulgar and obscene matters, and sexual assault on women have reached such proportions, as would totally destroy the moral and physical fabric of children and the youth. Many persons have become demons in human form. Morality has reached its lowest ebb. As a result, corruption, misappropriation and cheating are dominating social and political life. Even when huge amounts of money are misappropriated, given as bribe in international or intra-national transaction, no one is caught. People enjoy the bribe and blame the system. These evils are afflicting humanity like blood cancer. Need-based civilization which alone can ensure sparing use of natural resources, and minimum impact on environment and ecology, has been replaced by greed-based civilization resulting in unlimited wants and consumerism, without in the least realising the duty towards posterity, of leaving the earth in as safe a condition as we had inherited. Ecologists have estimated that half the species of the fauna and the flora which became extinct over the last 2000 years did so after 1900. It looks as though man thinks the earth and everything on it belongs to him, though the truth is, man belongs to the earth, and so also the fauna and the flora. Ostentatious living coupled with throw-away attitude, i.e., using an article for a few days and throwing it away when a new one becomes available, which is causing a serious drain on natural resources, has spread even to married life, resulting in millions of children being rendered orphans though the parents are living. In the absence of proper education and upbringing they are becoming a menace to humanity. In this background, the question which naturally arises in the minds of all those who have concern for humanity and future generations is - what is the solution?

This book is intended to remind us about the Ancient Indian Wisdom in the form of "DHARMA" formulated and evolved as the panacea for all human problems, and acknowledged as such by great modern thinkers of the West. The Global Ethic recently formulated by the Parliament of World Religions held at Chicago during August-September 1993, after relating the woes of the World, is similar to Dharma. Before the night falls, before it is too late, humanity should realise what is happening and retrace its steps and proceed in the right direction. Let us begin a new chapter from at least the 21st Century for a happy and harmonious living.

1st & 2nd edition of this book was published by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. This special edition 2010 is being published on the eve of world Samskrit Book fair by `Vijnaneshwara Research and Training Centre in Polity Martur, Gulbarga'.

I express my sincere thanks to Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, & Sri H.R. Ananth of Bangalore Press, the printer of this book.

**Contents and Sample Pages**