ABOUT US
Who are we?
Indian Bioethics Project is an independent project under Gujarat National Law University, which aims at contributing to the Indian discourses on the intersections between Bioethics and Law.Â
There has hardly been a time in Indian history when the Indian traditions have not been in transition, except perhaps hypothetically at the very beginning of Indian civilisation. India may appear to be a culture wrapped in its past, possessed by religion, and aglow in its mystical tradition.Â
By dealing with questions of right and wrong, ethics operates quite closely with religion, and historically, there have indeed been many intersections between religion and ethics. Given the religious plurality of India, which also adds to the cultural diversity, Indian ethics and particularly Indian Bioethics may have lessons for the pluralistic world.
WHY INDIAN BIOETHICS?
'India speaks in many voices, and this polyphony makes it difficult to articulate a singular judgment. An evocative metaphor often employed to capture the spirit of the tradition is that of a palimpsest, an ancient parchment upon which generation after generation inscribe their messages layer upon layer, and yet no succeeding layer completely erases or hides what was previously written. Religion has historically influenced Indian society on a political, cultural and economic level. There is a sense of pride associated with the country’s rich religious history as the traditions of Hinduism, Buddhism, Sikhism and Jainism all emerged out of India. The study shall serve as a guide for academics as an unprecedented teaching tool. It will help the policymakers frame effective policies by taking into account that the society is not homogenous and that religion plays a major role in ethical decision making, and even more so in the Indian Society.
ACTIVITIES
The research will aim to enhance and advance conversations in bioethics in India by conducting the following activities:
Conducting research in bioethics not only from a philosophical but a legal, social and theological and epistemological method as well
Raise awareness and host discussions around bioethical issues among academics through conferences, round tables etc.