M A I N   N E W S

Gandhi Peace Prize for Havel

New Delhi, October 1
Former Czech President Vaclav Havel has been selected for this year’s prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize for ‘’his outstanding contribution towards world peace and upholding human rights in the most difficult situations’’.

The decision was taken by a five-member jury chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee and including Leader of Opposition Sonia Gandhi, Chief Justice of India V.N. Khare, former President R. Venkataraman and former Prime Minister I.K. Gujral.

The award carries an amount of Rs 1 crore and a citation. It is awarded every year for outstanding work and contribution to social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods.

Previous recipients of the award include former President of Tanzania Dr Julius K. Nyrere, founder President of the Sarvodaya Movement in Sri Lanka Dr A.T. Ariyaratne, Dr Fischer from Germany, the Ramakrishna Mission of India, Social activist Baba Amte, former President of South Africa Dr Nelson Mandela, Nobel Laureate John Hume from Ireland and the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan. — UNI