Siwan, Feb. 7: An individual is the only decider of ethics and morality was the message conveyed at a national seminar on “Ethics and human values” organised today at ZA Islamia College.

The chief guest at the University Grants Commission-sponsored (UGC) seminar was the chairman of Bihar human rights commission, Justice Rajendra Prasad. Addressing the audience, he said: “It is the individual who decides what is correct for himself, his community, society, state, nation and the world.”

“Every individual, family, society, nation and universe have their respective characters and the accumulated character translates into a civilisation. What is right or what is wrong is a matter of realisation, not of narration,” he said.

He said there are some universal ethics and morality like feeling of love, co-operation, help to others, truthfulness, service to humanity.

“Despite being self-centred and selfish, we can still be human beings. Whatever we do, we should do wholeheartedly so that the natural outcome will be service to others. The problem arises when we fail to look after our own interests sincerely,” he said.

According to Justice Prasad, problem arises when we stop listening to our conscience and just listen to our mind.

“If we understand this and act accordingly, we would automatically become moralists,” he said.

Raising fingers at modern literature, Justice Prasad insisted literature cannot ever be the reality of life, it is only a mirror of life and the shadow in the mirror is not the reality. However, he concluded that humanity is in a better state these days.

Earlier, introducing the topic, the convener of the seminar Ashok Priamvad said the matter of ethics is attached to all living beings.

“Ethics depends on how far we are able to conserve human values and expand it for the benefit of the world. Even tough morality and ethics are relative, efforts to make a world of cohesion and development with peace is of utmost importance,” he said.

Principal of Navodaya Vidyalaya, Raj Kapoor, professor Virendra Narayan Yadav also spoke at the occasion.

The principal of ZA Islamia College, Asad Hassan, presided the seminar and Haroon Shailendra conducted the meeting.