President Presents Gandhi Peace Prize 2014 to ISRO

President Presents Gandhi Peace Prize 2014 to ISRO

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the Gandhi Peace Prize for the year 2014 to Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) today (September 9, 2015) at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Chairman of ISRO Shri A S Kiran Kumar received the honour on behalf of the organization. The Hon’ble Vice President Of India Shri Mohammad Hamid Ansari, Hon’ble Prime Minister of India Shri Narendra Modi, Hon’ble Minister of  State for Culture (IC), Tourism (IC) & Civil Aviation Dr Mahesh Sharma, members of Jury & a distinguished gathering including eminent Gandhians were present at the  function.

Speaking on the occasion, the President congratulated each and every member of the Indian Space community on ISRO being awarded the coveted Gandhi Peace Prize. He said Science and Technology is a key driver for shaping the destiny of nations and people across the globe. Technology is built not so much by individuals but by organizations. The characteristics of organizations – their leaders, their structures and their cultures have a great bearing on catalyzing innovations and putting them to use for the benefit of society. ISRO is one such Indian organization, which has nurtured, developed and demonstrated world class capabilities. Even as it has sought to encompass the globe and reach for the stars, it has remained rooted in its core mission of national regeneration and improving the life of the common man, a goal set for the nation by Mahatma Gandhi. 

Dr Mahesh Sharma said I congratulate the ISRO on behalf of the nation. Gandhi Peace Prize is being awarded to an institution which followed the footstep of Mahatma Gandhi. ISRO has contributed to the nation through the application of space technology. ISRO has changed the life of common man while bringing space to the service of people. He also said that ISRO is working on 170 projects in coordination with various departments of the Government of India. ISRO’s space technologies have been of great help during the natural disasters and have been helpful in the service of the humanity and the nation He added.

Speaking at the award ceremony, Shri A. S. Kiran Kumar, Chairman, ISRO said that this is the recognition of the visionary Dr Vikram Sarabhai and the successive leaders of ISRO and their contribution. He said that ISRO pledges and rededicates to bring the fruits of space technology to the people of the country.

Indian Space Research Organisation is engaged in making space technology a catalyst of development to bring about societal transformation. The Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO)’s mission is to provide the nation with space based services and to develop the technologies to achieve the same. Through the years, ISRO has upheld its mission of bringing space to the service of the common man and in the service of the nation. In the process it has become one of the six largest space agencies of the world. 

ISRO contributes to the nation’s development through satellite based education, health care and connectivity to community activities for sustainable economic development. Besides this, ISRO through space technology has allowed for improved mapping of agricultural land and water-shed areas, providing advisories to fishing communities, giving information support for decentralised planning, creating data base of heritage sites, better climate and disaster management support and promoting a knowledge-based society, which has led to social, economic and political transformation through non-violence. 

ISRO also has through tele-medicine, one of the communication technology applications, has enhanced the healthcare services delivery, wherein a satellite tele-medicine network through INSAT system links the rural hospitals in the country with specialty hospitals to enable the rural populace to access the specialist medical consultations. Similarly, Tele-Education has demonstrated the unique capability of satellites in virtually taking the best teachers in the country to teach students in the rural villages. 

The Gandhi Peace Prize was instituted by the Government of India in 1995 on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. This annual award is given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. The Award carries an amount of Rupees one crore in cash, a plaque and a citation.

Back Ground Note on Gandhi Peace Prize

As a tribute to the ideals espoused by Mahatma Gandhi, the Government of India launched the Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of his 125th Birth Anniversary. The Gandhi Peace Prize, named after Mahatma Gandhi, is awarded annually by the Government of India. This award is given to individuals and institutions for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violence and other Gandhian methods. It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, creed or sex. To be considered for the award, it would ordinarily be necessary that a person is recommended in writing by someone with the competence thereof, such as, former members of the jury; persons who have received the award, Members of Parliament of India, Nobel Laureates for the last five years; the Secretary-General of the United Nations and other leaders in International Organizations or Institutions whose objectives are promotion of peace, non-violence and emancipation of less privileged sections of society, tolerance, social harmony and social justice; Chancellors and Vice-Chancellors of the Universities; Heads of Indian Missions abroad for bringing it to the notice of and for consulting major relevant institutions and experts of the country concerned; Heads of Institutions relating to studies and research in non-violence and Gandhian principles; Presiding Officers of Lok Sabha/State Assemblies/Councils; Governors/Chief Ministers of the States/UTs Administration; Secretary-General, Commonwealth, Commonwealth Parliamentary Union, Inter Parliamentary Union; and any other person whom the Jury may wish to invite to make proposals for the Award. Ordinarily, only proposals emanating from competent persons invited to nominate shall be considered. However, a proposal shall not be invalid for consideration by the jury merely on the ground of not having emanated from competent persons. In all such cases, the decision of the Jury shall be final. The Jury can also make a suo-moto nomination. If, however, it is considered that none of the proposals merit recognition, the Jury is free to withhold the award for that year. Only achievements within 10 years immediately preceding the nomination are considered for the award; an older work may, however, be considered if its significance has not become apparent until recently. A written work, to be eligible for consideration, should have been published. Presentation of award shall be made at New Delhi at a special ceremony by the President of India. The Secretariat for the award is provided by the Ministry of Culture, Government of India. The first Prize was conferred upon Dr. Julius K. Nyerere, former President of Tanzania. For the year 1996, the Prize was awarded to Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne, Founder President of Sarvodaya Sharamadana Movement, Sri Lanka. The Prize was awarded to Dr. Gerhard Fischer of Germany for 1997, Rama Krishna Mission (India) for 1998, Baba Amte (Murlidhar Devidas Amte) (India) for 1999, Dr. Nelson Mandela and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh (Jointly) for the year 2000, Dr. John Hume, Ireland, for the year 2001, Bhartiya Vidya Bhawan for the Year 2002, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, South Africa for the year 2005 and Sh. Chandi Prasad Bhatt for the year 2013. The prize was not awarded for the years 2004, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 and 2012. The Jury for Gandhi Peace Prize 2014 comprises of the following Members: 1.      Shri Narendra Modi                                                                 Chairman Prime Minister of India 2.      Shri H. L. Dattu                                                                       Member Chief Justice of India 3.      Shri Mallikarjun Kharge                                                          Member Leader of the Single largest Opposition party in the Lok Sabha 4.      Shri L. K. Advani                                                                     Member Member of Parliament (LS) 5.      Shri Gopalkrishna Gandhi                                                         Member Ex-Governor of West Bengal