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In 2013, Minorities Rights Day was declared in India following the country’s endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Ethnic, Religious, and Linguistic Minorities, adopted on December 18, 1992.
Minorities Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 18. (Image: Shutterstock)
In India, Minorities Rights Day is celebrated every year on December 18. It reflects the nation’s commitment to protecting and promoting the rights of minority communities. The day is observed to emphasize the importance of preserving the rights of religious, et
hni
c, racial and linguistic minorities within the country.
Minorities Rights Day History
In 2013, Minorities Rights Day was declared in India following the country’s endorsement of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Persons Belonging to National or Et
hni
c, Religious and Linguistic Minorities, which was adopted on December 18, 1992.
The declaration calls on states to take necessary measures to protect the identity and rights of minority groups.
The National Commission for Minorities (NCM) was officially established in 1992 under the National Commission for Minorities Act. Its role is to monitor the implementation of the constitutional rights of recognized minority communities, which include Muslims, Christians, Sikhs, Buddhists and Zoroastrians (Parsis). Jains were added to this list in 2014.
Minorities Rights Day Significance
Minorities Rights Day plays an important role in:
- Awareness Raising: It highlights the challenges faced by minorities and promotes understanding between different societal groups.
- Promoting Inclusivity: The day encourages acceptance of cultural diversity in Indian society.
- Advocating for Equality: It serves as a platform to advocate for equal rights and social justice for all communities.
- Reflecting on Progress: The celebration provides an opportunity to reflect on the progress made in safeguarding minority rights while also identifying areas that require more attention.
National Minority Rights
The rights of minorities are guaranteed under various constitutional provisions in India, particularly Articles 29 and 30.
These articles ensure the rights to education,
culture
and freedom from discrimination based on religion or language for minorities.
The NCM actively works to implement these rights and addresses the grievances of minority communities.
Recognised Minority Groups
The NCM recognizes the following groups as minorities in India:
- Muslims
- Christians
- Sikhs
- Buddhists
- Zoroastrians (Parsis)
- Jains
Minorities Rights Day 2024 Quotes
1. Martin Luther King Jr.: “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.”
2. Nelson Mandela: “To deny people their human rights is to challenge their very humanity.”
3. Desmond Tutu: “If you are neutral in situations of injustice, you have chosen the side of the oppressor.”
4. John Lewis: “Ours is not the struggle of one day, one week, or one year. Ours is the struggle of a lifetime, or maybe even many lifetimes.”
5. Wayne Gerard Trotman: “As long as there is racial privilege, racism will never end.”
6. Ban Ki-moon: “Defeating racism, tribalism, intolerance and all forms of discrimination will liberate us all, victim and perpetrator alike.”
7. Philip Randolph: “Freedom is never granted; it is won. Justice is never given; it is exacted.”
8. Malcolm X: “You can’t separate peace from freedom because no one can be at peace unless he has his freedom.”
9. Harriet Tubman: “Every great dream begins with a dreamer. Always remember, you have within you the strength, the patience, and the passion to reach for the stars to change the world.”
10. Thurgood Marshall: “In recognizing the humanity of our fellow beings, we pay ourselves the highest tribute.”
