Do not impose on others what you yourself do not desire.
(The Analects, XV:24, Confucius).

One should never do that to another which one regards as injurious to one’s own self. This, in brief, is the rule of dharma. Yielding to desire and acting differently, one becomes guilty of adharma.
(Mahabharata XII: 113,8).

No man is a true believer unless he desires for his brother that which he desires for himself.
(Muhammad, from the Hadith).

The nature only is good when it shall not do unto another whatever is not good for its own self.
(Dabinstan-i-dinik 94:5)

He who for the sake of happiness hurts others, who also wants happiness, shall not hereafter find happiness.

Love your neighbour as yourself.
(Gospel of Mark 12:33 (RSV)).

In his book Hinduism and Human Rights (2004) Sharma so aptly gathered these quotations to illuminate a shared morality within religions.  We at Ashray are secular, however, we share in this beautiful understanding.

It is our dream to see equality amongst men and women the world over.  The community we service rarely sees justice in court issues.  They are unable to pay the fees of lawyers or advocates.
 
Our Legal department assists the poor in the following areas:

* Acquisition of identification for the poor or homeless.
* Property rights and property disputes.
* Marriage counseling, discussing issues related to an ever changing India.
* Wrongful imprisonment or wrongful detention.
* Minor offenses.
* Assisting the vulnerable such as widows and the elderly so:
1. They are rightfully issued their ration card which provides concessions on the essentials-cooking gas, sugar, wheat and rice.
2. They are rightfully given their monthly pensions.

Mr. Sheel Chandra Kishore Kujur

We are primarily concerned with informing our community of their rights as citizens of India.  We have a part time legal adviser, Mr. Sheel Chandra Kishore Kujur.  He provides monthly classes advising the residents of Nagwa about their personal rights under Indian Law.

Sheelu is an advocate and he is currently continuing his studies so that he may one day be a Judge.  He hopes to be benched so that he can make a difference in the inequalities – the castes that are harshly discriminated against here in India.  As he himself, is one of the so called Other Backward Classes.

Father Francis has been contributing to Sheelu’s education for some years now.  You can assist Sheelu with his studies by contributing financially.

Other Support

Father Francis is thorough in his project designs.  They are grounded in careful thought.  The legality of Ashray and its projects is not merely based in Indian law.  Legality is more subtle than just rules.  What we seek is social legality, the goal being that people feel the projects come from their own cultural soil.  Francis consults knowledgeable people for advice.  Advisors and good friends of Father’s are:

Philosophy Of Indian Law - Dr. Om Prakash Sharma

Dr. Om Prakash Sharma is affiliated with Karlstadt University in Sweden, where he lectures regularly as he is the Director of the Swedish Exchange Program here in Varanasi.  He too has helped Father Francis with advice whenever new projects are concerned.  Most importantly he has helped Father Francis to get a deeper understanding of Indian Law, which has its roots in Indian philosophical thought.

Legal Advisor - Mr. Kamlesh Pal

Mr. Pal is an advocate who has assisted Frans over the years advising on property rights and assisting with the legalities of acquiring the land in which Ashray now stands. He’s always available whenever Father Francis needs legal advice.

Intellectual Support - Professor Dipak Malik