Equality is a powerful moral and political ideal that has inspired and guided human society for many centuries. It is implicit in all faiths and religions which proclaim all human beings to be the creation of God. As a political ideal the concept of equality invokes the idea that all human beings have an equal worth regardless of their colour, gender, race, or nationality. It maintains that human beings deserve equal consideration and respect because of their common humanity. It is this notion of a shared humanity that lies behind, for instance, the notions of universal human rights or ‘crimes against humanity.’

In the modern period the equality of all human beings has been used as a rallying slogan in the struggles against states and social institutions which uphold inequalities of rank, wealth status or privilege, among people. In the eighteenth century, the French revolutionaries used the slogan ‘Liberty, Equality and Fraternity’ to revolt against the landed feudal aristocracy and the monarchy. The demand for equality was also raised during the anti-colonial liberation struggles in Asia and Africa during the twentieth century. It continues to be raised by struggling groups such as women or dalits who feel marginalised in our society. Today, equality is a widely accepted ideal which is embodied in the constitutions and laws of many countries.

Yet, it is inequality rather than equality which is most visible around us in the world as well as within our own society. In our country we can see slums existing side by side with luxury housing, schools with world-class facilities and air-conditioned classrooms along with schools which may lack even drinking water facilities or toilets, waste of food as well as starvation. There are glaring differences between what the law promises and what we see around us.

FACT SHEET ON GLOBAL INEQUALITIES
1. The richest 50 individuals in the world have a combined income greater than that of the poorest 40 crore people. 2. The poorest 40 per cent of the world’s population receive only 5 per cent of global income, while the richest 10 per cent of the world’s population controls 54 per cent of global income. 3. The first world of the advanced industrial countries, mainly North America and Western Europe, with 25 per cent of the world’s population, owns 86 per cent of the world’s industry, and consumes 80 per cent of the world’s energy.

ECONOMIC INEQUALITIES IN INDIA
Here are some findings from the Census of India held in 2011 about household amenities and assets. You don’t need to memorise any of these figures. Just read these to understand the extent of urban-rural disparities in the country. Where would your own family fit?
Families that have… Rural Urban
Electricity connection 55% 93%
Tap water in the house 35% 71%
Bathroom in the house 45% 87%
Television 33% 77%
Scooter/Moped/ Motorcycle 14% 35%
Car/Jeep/ Van 2% 10%

Thus we face a paradox: almost everyone accepts the ideal of equality, yet almost everywhere we encounter inequality. We live in a complex world of unequal wealth, opportunities, work situations, and power. Should we be concerned about these kinds of inequalities? Are they a permanent and inevitable feature of social life which reflects the differences of talent and ability of human beings as well as their global or national inequalities, or are these inequalities a consequence of our social position and rules? These are questions that have troubled people all over the world for many years. It is a question of this kind that makes equality one of the central themes of social and political theory.