Abstract

This article explores the meanings of the concept of dignity from a Hindu perspective. Although the word dignity appears in the Constitution of India, at the time the constitution was written, there was controversy as to whether the concept had the power to uplift those at the bottom of Indian society. Hindu texts, however, lead to interpretations of dignity as an inclusive concept according to which humans have dignity because they are connected with each other and Ultimate Reality or God. This collectivist, relational perspective on dignity informs the Hindu attitudes and practices in healthcare, particularly at the end of life.