The prize for the year 2019 conferred upon the late Sultan of Oman
New Delhi: The Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 would be posthumously conferred upon Bangladesh’s first President Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.
“As Bangladesh celebrates Mujib Borsho, India is honoured to be commemorating his legacy jointly with the Government of Bangladesh and its people,” the Ministry of Culture stated here today. It added: “The Gandhi Peace Prize recognizes the immense and unparalleled contribution of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman in inspiring the liberation of Bangladesh, bringing stability to a nation born out of strife, laying the foundation for the close and fraternal relations between India and Bangladesh, and promoting peace and non-violence in the Indian subcontinent.
The jury chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and comprising of the Chief Justice of India, Leader of the single largest Opposition Party in Lok Sabha, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organization, had met on March 19, 2021 and after due deliberations, had unanimously decided to select Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the recipient of the prize.
The jury also announced the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2019 to be conferred on (Late) Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman in recognition of his “unparalleled vision and leadership in strengthening relations between India and Oman, and his efforts to promote peace and non-violence in the Gulf region”.
The past awardees include luminaries like Dr. Julius Nyerere, Former President of Tanzania; Dr. Gerhard Fischer, Federal Republic of Germany; Ramakrishna Mission; Baba Amte (Shri MurlidharDevidasAmte); Late Dr. Nelson Mandela, former President of South Africa; Grameen Bank of Bangladesh; Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa; Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt & Indian Space Research Organisation. Recent awardees include Vivekananda Kendra, India(2015); Akshaya Patra Foundation, India and Sulabh International (Jointly, for 2016); Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India(2017) and Shri Yohei Sasakawa, Japan(2018).
Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India since 1995, the 125th Birth Anniversary commemoration year of Mahatma Gandhi, and carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft/ handloom item.
– global bihari bureau
