Dharma (The Global Ethic)

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M. Rama Jois was born on 27th July 1931 in Araga vaillage of Thirhahalli 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 1995. 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 the 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 Ltd. Bombay. 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.

The Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan had the good fortune of publishing, in 1995, "Hindu Dhama: 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 faith 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 know pray fully 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). With its rich connotations, Dharma is untranslatable as one word into any other language. justice jois defines it as "a collective term for the entire code of righteous conduct, covering every sphere of human activity, and in every capacity or role of an individual, in relation to other individuals."

He deals with the subject with such thoroughness that one need not go elsewhere for a proper understanding of the concept in its amplitude and depth. He presses into service the Vedas, the Ramayana, the Mahabharata, the Manusmriti, the Arthashastra, the Mahabharata, the Manusmriti, the Arthashastra, the Hitopadesa, the Rajatarangini, in short, all those time tested works that have a bearing on Dharma.

Justice Jois expounds the subject in its threefold classification of Samanya Dharma, Vyavahara Dharma and Raja Dharma. Examining what can notes Samanya Dharma or the common virtues to be observed by all people, the Manusmriti enumerates ahimsa, satya, asteya, saucha and indriyanigraha. Quoting Manu, the author stresses that Dharma requires control over mind, speech and action, so that no injury, Physical or mental, and pecuniary loss or damage are caused to any individual. In his view, and rightly so, the 'Trivarga' – Dharma, Artha and Kama – strike a balance between personal and public interests.

Dharma implies scrupulous adherence to the Rule of Law moral and secular and therefore, its practice leads to peace full co-existence. implicit in dharma are a wide range of values patriotism, social obligations, equality, gratitude, compassion, service and sacrifice.

Raja Dharma claims a prominent place in this monograph a Dharma that unfortunately seems to have suffered an eclipse in the present day dispensation in country. "All Dharmas are merged in Rajadharma", 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 view the whole world as one Family Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam – Living in peace and harmony. Global awareness of Dharma alone can bring global peace and harmony. Dharmaorakshati rakshitah 'Dharma protects one who protects Dharma.' Dharma helps to intergrate different values in one's life; only well intentioned individuals can promote national intergration 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.

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 modem 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.