Social justice is not a term used in everyday parlance, yet across the globe people fight for social justice for themselves and their communities every day without realising it.
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None of the Northeastern governments have officially observed the day — even people who claim to work for social justice fail to remember this day to mark its necessity and objectives
Monalisa Changkija
Social justice is not a term used in everyday parlance, yet across the globe people fight for social justice for themselves and their communities every day without realising it. Social justice is so neglected as a dire need that we forget the United Nations observes the World Day of Social Justice on February 20 to highlight the urgent need to promote social justice, equality and inclusion across societies. Notice that none of the Northeastern governments have officially observed the day — even people who claim to work for social justice fail to remember this day to mark its necessity and objectives.
So, what is social justice? It is said to be the philosophical and practical pursuit of a fair and equitable society where everyone has equal access to rights, opportunities and resources, regardless of their background. It focuses on removing systemic barriers, reducing economic inequality and ensuring that marginalized groups receive equitable treatment. The core principles of social justice are access, equity, participation, diversity, human rights and inclusion, which mean active and intentional engagement, affirmation, valuing and respect for individuals and groups of diverse backgrounds and creating a sense of belonging for all individuals and groups across the system. These core principles aim at fairness by ensuring everyone has what they need to succeed, a voice in decisions, and respect for their inherent dignity, regardless of background. These principles work together to address systemic inequalities and create inclusive societies where resources and opportunities are shared justly.
The UN definition of social justice is “an underlying principle for peaceful and prosperous coexistence within and among nations”. This can be interpreted as a world in which societies are based on the principles of equality and solidarity, understand and value human rights, and recognize the dignity of every human being. Respect for the human person, promotion of the family, the individual’s right to own property, the common good, subsidiarity, the dignity of work and workers, and the pursuit of peace and care for the poor, summarise some of the essentials of Catholic social teaching from Leo XIII through Benedict XVI. One of the earliest known uses of the term “social justice” was in 1840 by Luigi Taparelli, an advisor to the Vatican. Scholars believe he used the term to argue that poor and disenfranchised people should be treated the same as others in society.
Examples of social justice include climate justice, which highlights the fact that wealthy nations have largely caused the climate crisis while less wealthy peoples suffer its impacts most severely; the refugee crisis; healthcare; racial justice; LGBTQIA+ rights; opposition to oppression; speciesism; ageism and sizeism. According to sources and context, social justice was once another term for “the justice of society”, meaning the justice that governs relations among individuals in society, without explicit reference to socio-economic equity or human dignity. Some of the biggest social issues that lead to injustice include income inequality; employment discrimination; racial discrimination; gender inequality; lack of access to education; health inequities; climate change and environmental injustice; housing and homelessness; and inequality within the criminal justice system, including police discrimination. Those most susceptible are minorities and oppressed social groups, including people already suffering from poverty and ethnic minorities. We can also add the insidious overt and covert strategies used to impose majoritarian religions, languages and cultures on ethnic minorities.
Some powerful social change movements you may have heard about include the Civil Rights Movement; Black Lives Matter; the School Strike for Climate; Indigenous land rights movements; girls’ rights to education campaigns; the movement against apartheid; #MeToo; marriage equality; and women’s right to drive in Saudi Arabia. Numerous studies have identified persistent challenges in achieving social justice in India. These include caste-based discrimination, lack of access to quality education and healthcare, gender-based violence and systemic biases within institutions. One of India’s most successful social justice reforms was the abolition of sati. However, the continued prevalence of child marriage and child labour represents some of India’s most glaring failures. One of the biggest social problems in the world today is violence — the use of force intended to cause harm, whether physical, psychological or both (including gender-based violence). On this count too, India has a dismal record, especially concerning violence against minorities, which does not seem to abate.
Education is a powerful catalyst for achieving social justice and sustainable development. It not only empowers individuals with knowledge and skills but also shapes values, attitudes and behaviours that foster equity, inclusivity and environmental responsibility. However, in India, education appears to be not only inaccessible to a vast majority of citizens but also lacking in informative, instructive and empowering social justice components. There are also several criticisms of Social Justice Theory (SJT). Critics argue that SJT devalues individual responsibility and individual accomplishment. While true justice demands acknowledging the historical disadvantages faced by certain groups, critics contend that SJT overemphasizes group identity and undervalues individual achievement.
To me, social injustice has much to do with our beliefs and habits: ignorance of social justice issues; absence of local organizations addressing such issues; failure to take positive action within our own communities; inability to harness the power of social media; and reluctance to volunteer, donate or attend demonstrations and protests in solidarity. In other words, we are not only ignorant and content to remain so, but we also lack empathy, little realising that many of us — from geographically, socially, politically and economically marginalized backgrounds — are victims of social injustice.
This is anomalous in Northeastern tribal societies, which are largely characterized by equity. Perhaps, because of our traditional subsistence economy, equity was a necessity, but it is also possible that it was inherent in us. However, with the introduction of changed economic systems, disparities emerged and we have learned to “other” the have-nots among us. This underscores the dire need for concerted social justice movements in the region, beginning with demanding that governments ensure equal access to rights, opportunities and resources for all, regardless of background, by removing systemic barriers, reducing economic inequality and ensuring equitable treatment of marginalized and disenfranchised groups. After all, social justice is both a constitutional and moral obligation of our governments. Simultaneously, citizens must relentlessly pursue social justice by pressurizing governments to deliver in letter and spirit; otherwise, we will not only continue to forget the World Day of Social Justice but eventually social justice itself.
(The Columnist is a Dimapur-based veteran journalist, poet and former Editor of Nagaland Page. Published in the February 23, 2026 issue of North East Now)