Thiruvananthapuram, Aug 23 (UNI) The 16th edition of the prestigious K M Bashir Memorial Lecture will be delivered by eminent jurist and former Supreme Court Judge Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman on September one at the Fourth Estate Hall, Trivandrum Press Club.
Organised annually by the Vakkom Moulavi Foundation Trust (VMFT), the lecture series honours the legacy of K M Bashir, a distinguished public figure known for his lifelong commitment to equitable economic development, social justice, and communal harmony. This year’s lecture also commemorates the centenary of K M Bashir’s birth.
Justice Nariman will speak on the topic ‘Fraternity in a Secular State: The Protection of Cultural Rights and Duties’, focusing on the constitutional principles that underpin India’s secular ethos and cultural diversity.
The event will begin at 4:30 pm and will be presided over by Dr Alexander Jacob, IPS, former Director General of Police.
VMFT President Prof Jameela Begum, Executive Vice-Chairperson Dr Sajitha Bashir and Chairperson Er A Suhair will also address the gathering.
Highlighting the importance of cultural rights within the Indian constitutional framework, Justice Nariman has noted: “Secularism is subsumed within fraternity and is fleshed out in the fundamental rights chapter and the fundamental duties chapter of the Constitution. Article 29, which protects cultural rights in our Constitution, is perhaps unique among the world’s constitutions, and therefore, protects cultural diversity, which in turn promotes the dignity of the individual.”
Widely regarded as one of India’s most influential jurists, Justice Nariman has authored several landmark judgments that have significantly shaped Indian law. These include his ruling in Shreya Singhal versus union of India, which struck down Section 66A of the IT Act—strengthening the right to free speech online.
He also played a pivotal role in recognising privacy as a fundamental right, decriminalising homosexuality in Navtej Singh Johar v. union of India, and delivering a progressive opinion in the Sabarimala temple entry case.
The K M Bashir Memorial Lecture Series has previously hosted a number of distinguished speakers, including Prof Prabhat Patnaik, Dr Asghar Ali Engineer, Dr Sarvepalli Gopal and Salman Khurshid.
Past lectures have addressed critical issues such as political economy, sectarianism, globalization, and the evolving role of the Left in India.
This year’s lecture continues to reflect the VMFT’s commitment to its overarching theme: “Communal Harmony, Constitution, and the Role of the State”— a subject that remains profoundly relevant in today’s socio-political landscape.
Justice Rohinton Fali Nariman to deliver KM Bashir Memorial Lecture on September 1
