SOURCE: THE HINDU
The ruling BJP and the opposition Congress have locked horns over the decision to award the Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 to Gita Press in Gorakhpur — the world’s largest publisher of Hindu religious texts. This decision was announced on June 18, 2023, on the occasion of Mahatma Gandhi’s 125th birth anniversary.
The prize was awarded to Gita Press for its ‘outstanding contribution towards social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods’, the press release noted.
Book cover of the Gita text published by Gita Press, Gorakhpur
Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who heads the jury for the prize, observed that conferring the prestigious award on the press house as it completed 100 years since its establishment, is a recognition of its work in community service. The prize recognises the contribution of Gita Press to the ‘collective upliftment of humanity, which personifies Gandhian living in true sense’, said the press release.
Following the announcement, Congress called the decision a travesty, likening Gita Press to Nathuram Godse or Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, triggering a war of words.
What is the Gandhi Peace Prize?
Instituted in 1995, the Gandhi Peace Prize is awarded for social, economic and political transformation through non-violence, to any deserving person/s or institution/s. The award comprises of a citation and an amount of Rs 1 crore and is open to all persons regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed or gender and any association, institution or organisation. The awardee is selected by a five-member jury comprising of the Prime Minster, Chief Justice of India, Leader of Opposition and two eminent personalities.
Nominees must be proposed either by former jury members, former awardees, members of Parliament, Nobel laureates for the last five years, Secretary-General of the United Nations or heads of other international peace organisations, Vice-Chancellors of universities, Chief Ministers, or Governors. Work achieved within the ten years preceding the nomination is considered for the award. The decision of the jury is final and cannot be challenged or appealed.