India to confer Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 on Bangabandhu

Father of the Nation Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman
Al-Haj Zahirul Huq

In recognition of his outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods, the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020 is being conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman.

The Press and Information Bureau of India on Monday said that the Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by Government of India since 1995, the 125th birth anniversary commemoration year of Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or sex.

The jury for Gandhi Peace Prize is chaired by the Indian prime minister Narendra Modi and comprises two ex-officio members, namely the Chief Justice of India and leader of the single largest opposition party in Lok Sabha. Two eminent members are also part of the jury, namely Som Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation.

The jury met on 19 March and after due deliberations, unanimously decided to select Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman as the recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2020, in recognition of his outstanding contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.

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 Murlidhar Devidas Amte), Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Archbishop Desmond Tutu of South Africa, Shri Chandi Prasad Bhatt and 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).

The award carries an amount of Rs. 1 crore, a citation, a plaque and an exquisite traditional handicraft item.

PM Modi has said that Bangabandhu was a champion of human rights and freedom, and is a hero to Indians as well. He also said that the legacy and inspiration of Bangabandhu has made the heritage of both countries more comprehensive and deep-rooted, and that the path shown by Bangabandhu has laid a strong foundation for the partnership, progress and prosperity of both countries over the last decade. As Bangladesh celebrates Mujib Borsho, India is honoured to be commemorating his legacy jointly with the government of Bangladesh and its people.

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 government of Bangladesh acknowledges with deep gratitude the decision of the Indian government to confer the Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 to Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, posthumously for the first time.

It is an honour for Bangladesh and its people for the Father of the Nation to be bestowed with this prestigious award, said a press release from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs on Monday.

The press release further states that the honour assumes special significance on the 50 year of Bangladesh’s independence when the country is on the verge of becoming a developing country, through political, economic and social transformation, the foundations of which were laid by Bangabandhu.

The award is also a befitting tribute to the ever-deepening Bangladesh-India relations in a year when both countries are jointly celebrating the golden jubilee of Bangladesh’s independence, 50 years of diplomatic relations and the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. As Bangladesh commemorates the legacy of Bangabandhu on his 100th birth anniversary, the award comes as a recognition of the life long struggle of this enduring leader to ensure the freedom, rights, aspirations and emancipation of his people and towards building a world free from hunger, poverty and exploitation, said press release.