Gandhi Peace Prize

• 12 May 2020

Why in News

Recently, the Ministry of Culture extended the nomination period for the Gandhi Peace Prize from 30^th April to 15^th June 2020, due to the lockdown in the wake of the Covid-19.

Key Points

• The annual award was instituted by the Government of India in 1995 during the commemoration of the 125^th Birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi for those involved in social, economic and political transformation through non-violence.
• The award carries an amount of ₹1 crore, a Citation in a scroll, a plaque as well as an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item.
• The prize can be given to individuals, associations, institutions or organizations.
  
  • It can be divided between two persons/institutions who are considered by the Jury to be equally deserving of recognition in a given year
  • It is open to all persons regardless of nationality, creed, race or sex.
• The prize is not awarded posthumously.
• In January 2019, Gandhi Peace Prize was awarded for the years 2015, 2016, 2017 and 2018.

Mahatma Gandhi

• Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi was born on 2^nd October, 1869, at Porbandar in Gujarat and died on 30^th January, 1948, at Gandhi Smriti, New Delhi.
• He was assassinated by Nathuram Godse in the Birla House during his evening prayers.
• He was a lawyer, politician, social activist, writer and became the leader of the nationalist movement against the British rule of India.
• He is considered the Father of the Nation.
• Rabindranath Tagore is said to have given him the title of Mahatma.
• Gandhi and his ideologies played an important role in liberating India from the British.
• Gandhi’s Works:
  
  • Journals: Young India, Navajivan, Harijan, Harijan Bandhu, Indian Opinion I and II, etc.
  • Books: Hind Swaraj, Satyagraha in South Africa, The Story of My Experiments with Truth (autobiography), etc.
  • Foundations: Natal Indian Congress (South Africa, 1894), Phoenix Settlement (South Africa, 1904), Satyagraha Ashram (Ahemadabad, 1915), Harijan Sevak Sangh (1932), Sevagram Ashram (Wardha, 1936), etc.

Source: PIB