​Literature & Human Rights (Kottayam, Kerala, India)

Visit to St. George’s College Aruvithura (Kottayam, Kerala), thanks to the Department of English. Powerful connection between Literature and Human Rights. As was commented, literature is indeed a powerful tool against injustice and Human Rights violations, and it has been for centuries. That said, Dr. Roza Pati reminded us that in the context of human rights there is always a difference between what laws are written and what culture dictates. If laws are written to allow everyone to go to school but girls are still not allowed to go to school – who [or what] is prohibiting them from doing so?
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Culture is a powerful driving force in society: “In order to achieve equality in any culture, we need culture to ineract. We need to understand the culture – and as part of the culture we should try to dig elements we find are repressive and violate the basis of co-existence”. 
What behaviors or attitudes in the culture around us may be causing human rights to be violated, regardless of laws written? Laws exist – but are they really protecting people? Enforcement of these laws is of course part of it, but we all play a part in helping to PREVENT injustices and crimes like human trafficking. We are part of culture.