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Jainism : The Cosmic Vision people actively subscribe to non-violence in thought and action that a citizen can obtain freedom of thought and expression in the real sense. Democracy flourishes only where those, who oppose the rulers, are also appropriately heard and not suppressed or oppressed. Acharya Tulsi, a leading figure among Jain monks has prescribed norms through his Anuvrata movement as to the type of persons who should be elected to rule the country. According to these norms, only those who are honest, those whose character is of a high order, who are free of addictions to drugs, who possess high quality of efficiencey, who are secular in their thought and action and are not biased in favour of any caste or creed alone deserve to be voted to power. Only such elected people can find effective solutions to the problems of the people. In the words of Bhagwan Mahavira, only the one who is bold and courageous can protect human rights.
Every citizen must be devoted to his duties as much as to his rights. Article 29(1) of the Declaration of Human rights emphatically states, “Everyone has duties to the community in which alone the free and full development of his personality is possible."
Women have been accorded equal status in Jain religion. In fact, there were more women in the order of Lord Mahavira than men. The scriptures record many tributes to women of exceptional qualities. The care of women, especially in critical situations, is given higher priority than that of men. Mothers of the Tirthankaras are given special honour through communal worship. Legends abound in which women of high spiritual merit such as Brahmi, Sundari, Mallikumari, and Rajimati have
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