NEW YORK — Actress and Human Rights Ambassador Sheena Chohan recently brought the Indian Constitution to the global stage, delivering a powerful address at the United Nations in New York. Speaking at the annual United for Human Rights conference via a special video presentation broadcasted on massive screens, Chohan advocated for human rights education and constitutional awareness to become a mandatory pillar of the Indian education system.
Chohan, who was honored with the prestigious Human Rights Hero Award at the UN for her efforts in spreading awareness about equality to over 120 million people, didn’t make the appeal alone. Her presentation featured a star-studded lineup of messages from some of Bollywood’s most influential voices.
Bollywood Unites for Constitutional Literacy
The UN presentation included video messages from leading names in the Indian entertainment industry, including Sonakshi Sinha, Sonu Sood, Raveena Tandon, Imtiaz Ali, Nandita Das, Sanjana Sanghi, Parvathy, Anushka Sen, Karan Tacker, Adinath Kothare, Ruchi Narain, Saket Chaudhary, and Shonali Bose. Together, they amplified a unified message: knowing your rights is essential for empowerment.
Highlighting education as the ultimate tool for societal balance, actress Sonakshi Sinha shared a passionate message during the broadcast:
“The Right to Education is so important because it is the foundation of equality, dignity, and opportunity. It empowers every child, regardless of where they come from, to dream, to question, and to shape their own future while strengthening the very foundation of our society. It’s something worth fighting for, which every student in my country has shown with their strength, resilience, and sincerity in the last few days, and I salute them.”
Fellow actress Raveena Tandon echoed these sentiments, stressing the need to introduce civic literacy at a grassroots level. “The constitution, I believe, should be simplified,” Tandon stated. “Basic rights need to be also taught to our children. I think it should be made mandatory. We all learn Civics and History, but I think it should be a part of the module for children to learn their basic Civic Rights.”
The Power of Knowing Your Rights
During her core address, Chohan shared a real-world example of constitutional literacy in action, citing the recent bravery of Indian youth.
“The power of knowing your rights was demonstrated by Rhiya Ahir last week, when, armed only with her knowledge of the Indian Constitution, she single-handedly stopped a police van filled with dozens of protestors who had been illegally detained,” Chohan told the UN assembly. “Rhiya said that she was only able to do that because she knew her rights.”
Chohan emphasized that true empowerment comes from active understanding, not just rote memorization. “I urge everyone to not only honor the students of India, but BE A STUDENT OF INDIA – pick up The Constitution and a dictionary today and study it, not to memorise it, but to truly understand and use it.”
Aligning with India’s New Educational Policy
Reiterating her long-term vision for the country’s youth, Chohan pointed out that current systemic reforms in India offer the perfect opportunity to implement these changes.
“If we truly apply India’s New Educational Policy, I am calling at the UN for it to be applied in the mandatory teaching of the most important and practical information of all – awareness of our basic rights and equality,” she stated.
With heavyweight Bollywood voices joining her on an international platform, Sheena Chohan’s address successfully reinforced a simple but vital message to the global community: knowing one’s rights is the indisputable first step toward building a more informed, equal, and resilient society.
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