Concept of human rights has roots in religion'

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Suresh Vamanjoor)
November 24, 2012

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Mangalore, November 24: The modern day concept of human rights has its roots in religious theology and it was only later that it was 'secularised', said Prof. SN Balagangadhara (Balu), Director, India Platform, Ghent University, Belgium.

He was speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the fourth international conference 'Rethinking Religion in India: Religion, Secularism and Law' at SDM Law College, Mangalore, on Saturday.

Prof. Balu said that although the human rights values have been defined rather recently through the Uinted Nations and other such forums and people, the base for such values has always been religious thelogy. “It was only recently that people decided to get rid of the word 'God' from there and secularise it”, he said.

He said that there is a need to rethink religion in India as people know India mostly through the framework and perspective provided by the west. “It is not the description of India or Indian culture. It is a description of the European experience of India”, he said. Prof. Balu also pointed out that humanity is indebted to centuries of Christian contribution in terms of development and science.

Rev Dr Aloysius Paul D'Souza, in his inaugural address said that religion has a major role to play in taking care of the moral, social and political crisis that India is suffering from today. He also said that religion answers questions and unsolved riddles of human existence and purpose of life.

Charly Poppe, First Secretary, Embassy of Belgium, and SL Bhoje Gowda, Member, Bar Council of India, Bangalore, also spoke.

Prof. S Prabhakar, Vice President, SDME Society, Ujire, and Dr. B K Ravindra, Principal, SDM Law College, Mangalore, were present besides others.

The conference is being jointly organized by SDM Law College, Mangalore, SDM Centre for Post Graduate Studies and Research in Law, Mangalore, Research Centre Vergelijkende Cultuurwetenschap, Ghent University, Belgium, Centre for the Study of Local Cultures and PGD of Law, Kuvempu University, Department of Study of Religions, University of Parbudice, Czech Republic, and the India Platform UGent, Ghent University, Belgium. Thevaledictory ceremony of the conference will be held on November 27.

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News Network
November 30,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 30: A 22-year-old college student succumbed to her injuries at a private hospital in Mangaluru today, days after she was hit by a goods tempo while crossing a road in Padubidri.

The deceased has been identified as Preksha, a resident of Nadsalu Billitota in Padubidri. The fatal incident occurred as Preksha, who was returning home after completing her examination, attempted to cross the service road towards Mangaluru. She was struck by a goods tempo approaching from the Udupi side, causing her to fall and sustain a severe head injury.

Prompt action from local residents ensured she received immediate first aid before being rushed to a hospital in Mangaluru for specialised treatment. Despite medical efforts, she passed away while undergoing care.

Preksha was a student at Karavali College, Vamanjoor on the outskirts of Mangaluru city. The tragedy is compounded by the fact that she belonged to a financially vulnerable family, having previously lost her father. She is survived by her mother and brother.

A case related to the accident has been registered at the Padubidri police station, and an investigation is underway to determine the exact circumstances that led to the collision. The incident highlights the growing concerns over road safety, particularly on busy service roads, and serves as a tragic reminder of the human cost of traffic accidents.

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coastaldigest.com news network
November 29,2025

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Mangaluru, Nov 29: Around 12,500 healthcare students from Medical, Dental, AYUSH, Pharmacy, Nursing, Physiotherapy and Allied Health Sciences colleges of Dakshina Kannada, affiliated to Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS), took part in a massive walkathon to promote awareness on Organ Donation and Nasha Mukth Bharat.

The inaugural ceremony was held at Mangala Stadium. Dr Bhagavan B C, Hon’ble Vice-Chancellor of RGUHS, delivered the welcome address. The walkathon was flagged off by Shri U T Khader, Hon’ble Speaker of the Karnataka Legislative Assembly, and presided over by Shri Dinesh Gundu Rao, Hon’ble Minister for Health, Family Welfare and Dakshina Kannada District In-charge. Dakshina Kannada MP Shri Brijesh Chowta also addressed the students.

Music director Guru Kiran, MLA Dr Bharat Shetty (Mangalore North), Police Commissioner Shri Sudheer Kumar Reddy, Shri Manjunath Bhandary and Shri Harish Kumar were among those present.

Institution heads including Dr Haji U K Monu (Kanachur Colleges), Dr Shantharam Shetty (Tejaswini College), Dr Bhaskar Shetty (City Group of Colleges), Mr Abdul Rahiman (Kanachur Institute of Medical Sciences), and the District Health Officer, Mangalore, also participated.

The vote of thanks was delivered by Prof U T Ifthikar Fareed, Syndicate Member, RGUHS.

The event was organised by Dr U T Ifthikar Ali and Dr Shiva Sharan (Syndicate Members), Prof Vaishali (Senate Member), Prof Mohammad Suhail (Chairman, BOS Physiotherapy), Dr Sharan Shetty (Former Senate Member), along with principals and faculty of various colleges.

Students marched from Mangala Stadium to Karavali Grounds via MCC and Lalbagh signal. The event set a record as one of the largest gatherings of healthcare students for a social cause in the RGUHS Dakshina Kannada Zone.

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News Network
December 7,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 7: A 34-year-old fruit and vegetable trader in Mangaluru has reportedly lost ₹33.1 lakh after falling victim to an online investment scam run through a fake mobile app.

Police said the scam began in September, when the victim received a link on Facebook. Clicking it connected him to a WhatsApp number, where an unidentified person introduced a high-return investment scheme and instructed him to download an app.

To build trust, the fraudster asked him to invest ₹30,000 on September 24. The trader soon received ₹34,000 as “profit,” convincing him the scheme was genuine. Over the next two months, he transferred money in multiple instalments via Google Pay and IMPS to different scanner codes and bank accounts shared by the scammers. Between September 24 and December 3, he ended up sending a total of ₹33.1 lakh.

When he later requested a refund of his investment and promised returns, the scammers demanded additional payments, claiming he needed to pay a “service tax” first. Even after he paid a small amount, no money was returned, and the scammers continued pressuring him for more.

A case has been registered at the CEN Crime Police Station.

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