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The Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, Delhi will receive the National Communal Harmony Award 2004 in the ‘Organization’ category and Acharya Sri Mahapragya in the ‘Individual’ category.
The Akhil Bharat Rachnatmak Samaj, a federation imbibing Gandhian values with branches spread in many states has a wide mass base and dedicated social workers and volunteers. The core activity of the Samaj is promotion of communal harmony and national integration. It has been organizing Sarva dharma sammelans, conferences, marches, rallies, etc. in various parts of the country to foster peace and communal harmony. The Samaj has set up a state wide network aimed at helping in restoring peace in Jammu & Kashmir. In addition, the Samaj is also engaged in organizing Indo-Pak amity meets.
Acharya Sri Mahapragya is a noted Jain spiritual leader, thinker, philosopher, writer and poet. His writings on non-violence, peace, socio-religious harmony, science of living, etc. have helped promote feelings of compassion and tolerance. A forum in the name of “Ahimsa Samvay” has been formed under his guidance to promote peace and non-violence. His peace marches and reconciliation conferences have helped forge a bond between various communities of the country.
The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation of Communal Harmony, an autonomous organization set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs for promoting communal harmony and national integration. The award had been instituted with a view to demonstrating due appreciation and recognition by the Union Government of the efforts of individuals and organizations/institutions for promotion of communal harmony and national integration in a sustained manner over a sufficiently long period of time. In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash award of Rs.5 lakh and Rs.2 lakh in the organization and individual categories respectively.
The earlier recipients of this award have been - Shri Asghar Ali Engineer (1997), Maulana Wahiduddin Khan (1998), His Holiness Shri Jagadguru Dr. Tontada Siddalinga Mahaswamiji (2001) and Begum Syeda Naseem Chisti (2002) in the ‘Individual’ category. Qaumi Ekta Trust (1997), Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan (1999), Bhakti Sahitya Shodh Sansthan (2000) and the National Youth Project Trust (2003) have been conferred this award in the ‘Organization’ category.
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