Nov 01: When the brazen throat of communal violence in Gujarat is roaring everywhere, here comes a day to honour those who choose a very different path from others to compose and sooth the riot victims across the country.
Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for the year 2006 was conferred on Wednesday to Dr J S Bandukwalla and Ram Puniyani for furthering the cause of communal harmony by setting personal example for others.
While giving away the award, UPA President Sonia Gandhi in a perceptible indication to the recent sting operation over the Gujarat riots said that there is a need to fight anti social forces, failing which there could be dangerous consequences for secular and democratic India.
"The truth that has come to light recently" makes it incumbent upon all Congressmen to struggle against such "inhuman cruelty,” she said.
"If we do not fight against such anti-social forces with unity and strength, some day it could prove dangerous for our secular and democratic country," she added.
Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said that communal harmony and the co-existence of all the great religions of the world are the building blocks of civilisation.
Both Puniyani and Bandukwalla left their academic career to follow a path that was guided by what their heart said. Babri Masjid demolition resulting the riots influenced Puniyani and then the Gujarat riots in 2002 left Bandukwalla aghast, who lost everything in the violence.
After taking retirement from IIT Mumbai, Puniyani is running EKTA, a communal harmony group and the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism. He is also instrumental in introducing peace studies in the curriculum at Tata institute of Social sciences.
Bandukwalla, a professor of Physics at M S University in Vadodara and a follower of Gandhism, is the President of the Gujarat unit of the People's Union of Civil Liberties, the Gujarat Muslim Education Society and the Zidni Ilma Charitable Trust.
The award is bestowed in the honour of Indira Gandhi who fought against terrorism; to carry on her values and vision further, the award is given annually to either distinguished persons or institutions for propagating national integration among religious group, ethnic group, culture, language and tradition. It was started in the year 1985 to commemorate Congress Centenary Year.
The award carries a citation and a cash prize of Rs 1.51 lakh
Giving recognition in the form of this award to such individuals who keep the services of mankind above everything is surely a genuine way to show nations gratitude and admirations towards them.
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