Of human dignity

Dignity is the inherent virtue with which all of us are born; it is an innate, incandescent grace gifted to us by God. No one has the right to take away human dignity, for denying that right is a betrayal of our own humanity. Every individual - whether poor or rich, ordinary or extraordinary - has a claim to his dignity; every act of humiliation inflicted on another diminishes the one who perpetrates it.

Each time we compel someone to surrender his ego and self-worth by bowing to those more privileged, or by curtailing his freedom to act according to his rights and capabilities, we restrict our own space. Pope Leo XIV, in his message to participants at a conference, emphasised 'building communities that safeguard dignity'. In every human face, even when marked by fatigue or pain, there is a reflection of the Creator's goodness - a light that no darkness can extinguish. It is our duty to draw closer to such individuals, to share their burdens and respond with compassion.

In the ancient Tamil anthology 'Purananuru', one of the poems says, 'It is despicable to genuflect before those who are above us, and it is worse to look down upon those who are below us.' Our failure to recognise the dignity of every being fuels intolerance, leading to an increasingly fractious world where egos clash, ambitions collide and self-interest reigns, resulting in violence and war.


For peace to prevail, let us restore the dignity we have long denied others.