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The Vice President, Shri Bhairon Singh Shekhawat presented the 4th Paulos Mar Gregorios Award – 2005 for Creative Compassion to the noted Gandhian and internationally acclaimed social worker Dr. Baba Amte at a function in Vigyan Bhawan, here this evening. The Award was received by Baba Amte’s son, Dr. Vikas Amte as Baba Amte himself could not come to Delhi for health reasons. The Award has been instituted by the Sophia Society of the Indian Othodox Church.
Speaking on the occasion, Shri Shekhawat said that Mahatma Gandhi called Baba Amte ‘Abhay Sadhak’ a fearless seeker of truth and it is this fearlessness which has given Baba Amte the inner strength to treat leprosy patients with care, concern and compassion. The presentation of the Dr. Paulos Award to Baba Amte would inspire a number of organisations and individuals to work for amelioration of the poor, the hungry and the diseased, he said.
Shri Shekhawat said that today we are living in an era of globalisation. But to many in the developing world, globalisation has not provided desired levels of economic benefits. There is growing divide between the haves and have-nots. A shift in the thrust of development towards the poor and the needy is urgently called for. Eradication of poverty and providing safety net for the poor remains the priority agenda item for action.
“Globalisation should mean not just breaking barriers of trade, but building a new world order free from violence, strife and conflicts, promoting peace and happiness, a world free from poverty and deprivation, a world which is a large family as enunciated in our ancient maxim of Vasudhaiv Kutumbakam’, the Vice President underlined.
Underlining further that India is home to all faiths and beliefs and that our religious and cultural diversities lend us unique richness, the Vice President said that what we need today is a more informed inter-faith dialogue as the objective of every religion is to make human being a better human being. He reminded that Mahatma Gandhi called the service of the Daridra Narayan as the highest form of worship of God. “To be religious, therefore, means to be motivated and committed to the objective of upliftment of the needy and the down-trodden, making our society more kind, compassionate and caring”, Shri Shekhawat said.
Shri Shekhawat reiterated his view that the welfare of the poor and deprived sections as the fifth pillar of democracy. He warned that if this key pillar is not strengthened, the edifice of democracy itself would run the risk of a collapse. All of us, therefore, need to strive towards fulfilling what Mahatma Gandhi aspired “to wipe out every tear from every eye”.
Shri Shekhawat called upon the Government agencies, voluntary organisations and individuals to impart new vigour and momentum to motivate all sections of the civil society for selfless service of the needy and the deprived ones, not only for their riddance from poverty but also for providing them adequate healthcare.
Earlier, in his key-note address, the Member of Parliament and former Governor of Maharashtra, Dr. P.C. Alexander provided a historical background of the Indian Orthodox Church and the mission of Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios. He described Dr. Paulos as one of the greatest philosophers of the 20th Century who was an authentic voice of the 2000 year-old Indian Orthodox Church. He said that Dr. Paulos took to the world the message of compassion and love which has flourished on the Indian soil as he always said that if the Christians have survived in India as a minority without the minority complex, it is due to the tolerant and supportive attitude of the majority community of this land.
Dr. Vikas Amte, in his acceptance speech, described the mission of Dr. Amte and said it was a three-pronged mission which concentrated on promoting environment, care for the weak and deprived, (particularly the leprosy inflicted persons) and strengthening of the country’s unity.
The Arch Bishop of Bombay, His Grace Geevarghese Mr. Coorilos represented His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, the supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church at the Award ceremony. The Arch Bishop of Delhi, His Grace Job Mar Philoxenos, and Rev. Dr. K.M. George were the other speakers at the function.
AK/NSR
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