Before the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights at the UN General Assembly Session in 1948, the prevalence of people unaware of their basic rights was almost global. Even after the adoption of the document by the UN member-nations, the number of people without clear idea about their rights has been depressingly low --- especially in the less advanced nations. Even for many educated people in these nations, the issue of human rights comprises mere rhetoric; and if not so, in the guise of these rights the left-leaning activists make attempts to earn recognition for the mass causes. Few popular beliefs can be more banal and wrongly interpreted.
But there has also been a different aspect. Through ages, lots of oppressed people could not take injustices more. They expressed their opposition and resentment through revolts. It had occurred since the days of protest by the ancient Thracian gladiator Spartacus who led a slave revolt against the Romans. He led the slaves' struggle to have their right to freedom recognised by the oligarchs. Scores of protests and upsurges had continued to shake human societies. In the modern times, much before the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the long neglected and exploited women took to the city streets to raise their legitimate demands for ensuring that there is no discrimination. Societies were - and continue to be - largely male dominated. The womenfolk called for equal rights and facilities in every sector of society. Thus the annual International Women's Day came into being in 1910. It received UN recognition in 1975. Perhaps, when it comes to the fight for attaining the basic rights in the modern times, the role of women leaders and activists deserves a wide spotlight. According to a historical account, the first organised and coordinated street assemblage of women for realising their workplace rights took place in New York City in 1857. In the global rights movement some other women rebels carved out their permanent places. The most notable of them was the US Black civil rights activist Rosa Parks. On December 01 in 1955, Parks while travelling a city bus in Montgomery refused to vacate a seat to a white passenger in accordance with the segregation law then in force in that city. Rosa Parks' refusal to vacate her seat, and the driver's unwillingness to operate the bus sparked a widespread protest. Later, she was acclaimed as a great hero in the fight against racial discrimination globally. The US Congress called her 'the first lady of civil rights'.
However, the watershed movement that shook the world's conscience in the turbulent struggle to realise the rights of the commoners, the workers in particular, was seen in the bloody workers' demonstration that occurred at Hay Market in the US city of Chicago. The day was May 04, 1886. Later in remembrance of the brutalities and the fighting workers' martyrdom, May 01 was declared as the International Workers Day or the Labour Day. It is popularly known as the May Day, the day of realising the right to limit the work-time to 8 (eight) hours.
These and many other incidents of protest, violence and the resultant suppression have taken place throughout the modern history in the realisation of human rights. As observed by many rights specialists, some people are born rights-conscious. From their very childhood they develop their faculty in deciding to which they can lay their legitimate claim. They are not prepared to compromise even a little in exercising their rights to certain tangible and intangible things. Unfortunately, the Bangladesh society is filled with people who are completely indifferent to rights issues; they include socially well placed people as well. Upon being purportedly aware of the flawed and discrimination-filled Bangladesh society, these social segments behave as if they know to what extent the rights of the people can be realised in this country. This is sheer self-righteousness. But it is also true that applying one's legitimate right to any area, for seeking redress to a problem or getting something, has become easier in this country. In spite of this congenial atmosphere, the general people are loath to approach human rights activists. It could have smoothed out many a difficult problem.
Setting the whole issue against the present Bangladesh background, the rights situation in the country is found to be both wide-ranging as well as complicated. In the past rights would revolve round the basic activities related to a decent survival. In ensuring that people earn a decent living, the authorities concerned remain wary of popping up of uncalled-for and unsavoury issues. As could be expected, these adversities have lately been continuing making room for activists dealing with human rights. Overly optimists discover in the involvement of the rights people the signs of a vibrant society in Bangladesh. With literacy rate on the rise, young women in particular, awareness of the basic and inalienable rights has lately enhanced remarkably. Thanks to the campaigns and advocacy programmes conducted by civil rights groups, many rights issues are within the knowledge of people living on social margins. In many cases, rights-related arbitrations do not see the desired results. In spite of this, they come across one thing --- focus on the pressing socio-economic issues. In the bygone days these subjects would be traditionally swept under the rug. Times have changed radically. It's true, people still find it safe to overlook the injustices meted out to them and go on suffering for no fault of theirs. But in every society, there are a few non-conformists and rebels. They never fail to weigh in when injustices get the upper hand in a given situation. Few can get away by committing a wrong at the social level like in the past. There are persons everywhere who will come forward to obstruct their evil progress. People have become well aware that conventional and ritualistic complaints serve little purpose. As a remedy, they opt for involving the community. These bodies are no lame duck. They comprise activists who are committed to making a difference to this socio-economically uneven society. The Universal Declaration of International Human Rights is a multi-pronged document encompassing almost all the aspects of human existence. Man should live with dignity --- thus goes its motto.
To say that the people of Bangladesh are unaware about their rights is doing injustice to them. They are also undermined when some people say they let go of their legitimate rights. When their patience to bear with hostile situations is at the tether's end, they wear a new look, which is one of defiance. It is this irresistible urge to realise their rights that led them to an all-out war to fulfil their dream in 1971. As a rule, this is universal. It has applied to many nations deprived of their rights.
shihabskr@ymail.com