The United Nations Thursday roped in the versatile actor Kamal Haasan to be the agency's ambassador in its campaign against HIV/AIDS. The campaign aims to reduce the stigma attached to the decease and address the rights of people living with HIV/AIDS.
The essence of the campaign in Tamil Nadu is a pledge written by Kamal Haasan in Tamil, which begins with a famous line from the great poet Bharathiyar: 'Ini oru vidhi seivom' (let's make a new rule). It also says: 'Let's make it right'. Kamal addressed the students of the Justice Basheer Ahmed Sayeed College for Women on Thursday as part of the campaign. "Today should be the start of a movement. A movement that brings people together in pledging their support for people living with HIV/AIDS", was his message to the students.
He also made this moving statement that shows his deep commitment towards the cause: "People living with HIV have the same rights as I do. To live, to grow, to learn, to dream and to be a part of my world. I promise to uphold their rights and to give them strength in their times of need. I have the power to make our world a fairer, kinder and a better place to be." According to Pieter Bult, coordinator of the UN team in Chennai, "The UN across the globe works to ensure that the basic human rights of every individual are protected". Dec 1 is observed as AIDS Day all over the world as an effort to combat the infection.
Tamil Nadu has an estimated 160,000 people living with HIV and for the last two decades has been the focus of the UN's AIDS initiative in India.
Talking about his participation in the campaign, Kamal Haasan said, "I am happy to be used as a tool for a purpose that is very important. It is my duty to ensure that people living with HIV get their rights." "They (people with HIV/AIDS) are our brothers and sisters', he said, adding, 'please help me and be my partner in this very important movement" was his humble request.
We feel proud of Kaml, the great actor, who has once again proved that he is a great human being as well.
