PRESIDENT
PRESENTS GANDHI PEACE PRIZE 2013
Environmentalist and social activist Chandi Prasad Bhatt has been awarded the
prestigious Gandhi Peace prize for 2013.
President Pranab Mukherjee presented the award to
him at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.
The annual award was instituted by the government in 1995
on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. It
carries a plaque, citation and a cash prize of one crore rupees.
Speaking on the occasion, Mukherjee said that as a true Gandhian, 80-year-old
Bhatt realized aspirations of people and dedicated himself to improving lives
of villagers.
The President said Bhatt fought against government's wrong policies on forests
through non-violent means and his life is in itself a message.
Mukherjee said the Gandhi Peace Prize is an expression of belief in the ideals
of Gandhiji.
He said the award is part of the collective heritage and celebration of
diversity, plurality, unique culture and different modes of life in the
country.
The Gandhi Peace Prize is given to individuals and institutions for their
contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through
non-violence and other Gandhian methods.
The previous recipients of the award include
President Nelson Mandela, former Tanzanian President Dr Julius K Nyerere,
Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, founder President of Sarvodaya
Shramadana movement in Sri Lanka Dr A T Ariyaratne, Dr Gerhard Fischer of Rama
Krishna Mission in Germany and social worker Baba Amte.
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