Gandhi Peace Prize 2020 conferred on Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; 2019 prize for late Sultan of Oman

The Gandhi Peace Prize for the yr 2020 is being conferred on Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, the tradition ministry stated on Monday.
Late Sultan Qaboos bin Said Al Said of Oman was awarded the celebrated prize for the yr 2019 in recognition of his imaginative and prescient to strengthen relations with India, and his efforts to advertise peace and non-violence within the Gulf area, the ministry stated.
The Gandhi Peace Prize is an annual award instituted by authorities of India since 1995, the one hundred and twenty fifth delivery anniversary commemoration yr of Mahatma Gandhi. The award is open to all folks no matter nationality, race, language, caste, creed or intercourse.
The jury for Gandhi Peace Prize is chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and contains of two ex-officio members, particularly the chief justice of India and chief of the only largest opposition get together within the Lok Sabha.

Two eminent members are additionally a part of the jury — Om Birla, Speaker of the Lok Sabha, and Bindeshwar Pathak, Founder of Sulabh International Social Service Organisation.
The jury met on March 19, 2021 and after due deliberations, unanimously determined to pick Bangladesh’s father of the nation, Sheikh Mujibur Rahman, and Oman’s longtime ruler Sultan Qaboos for the prize, an official assertion stated.
The award carries an quantity of Rs 1 crore, a quotation, plaque and an beautiful conventional handicraft/handloom merchandise.

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Modi stated Bangabandhu was a champion of human rights and freedom, and a hero to Indians as properly.
He additionally stated that the legacy and inspiration of Bangabandhu has made the heritage of each nations extra complete and deep-rooted, and that the trail proven by Bangabandhu has laid a powerful basis for the partnership, progress and prosperity of each nations during the last decade.
“Bangabandhu’s vision continues to light the India-Bangladesh friendship. I had the privilege of honouring his memory during my previous Bangladesh visit and will again pay homage to him, alongside PM Hasina, during the #MujibBorsho celebrations,” Modi stated in a tweet.
“Year 2020 marked the birth centenary of Bangabandhu. He remains an icon of indomitable courage and tireless struggle for his millions of admirers,” he stated.
According to the ministry, late Sultan Qaboos, the longest-serving chief within the Middle East and Arab world on the time of his loss of life in 2020, obtained the prize, in “recognition of his outstanding contributions for social, economic and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods.”
“His Majesty Sultan Qaboos was a visionary leader whose twin policy of moderation and mediation in addressing international issues won him praise and respect across the globe. He played an important role in supporting peace efforts in various regional disputes and conflicts,” the assertion stated.
“Sultan Qaboos was the architect of the special ties between India and Oman. He had studied in India and always maintained a special relationship with India. Under his leadership, India and Oman became strategic partners and our mutually beneficial, comprehensive partnership strengthened and scaled newer heights,” it added.
The assertion stated, Modi had recalled the contribution of Sultan Qaboos to India-Oman ties when he handed away by saying that he was “a true friend of India and provided strong leadership for developing a strategic partnership between India and Oman.”

The prime minister had additionally remembered him as a “visionary leader and statesman” and “beacon of peace for our region and the world”.“His Majesty Sultan Qaboos bin Said was a strong advocate of India-Oman friendship, and took special care of the welfare of the Indian community in Oman. I cherished my interactions with His Majesty, and benefited from his wise insights on many subjects,” Modi stated in a tweet.
Gandhi Peace Prize recognises the unparalleled imaginative and prescient and management of the late Sultan Qaboos Bin Said in strengthening relations between India and Oman, and his efforts to advertise peace and non-violence within the Gulf area, the assertion stated.

Recent awardees of the Gandhi Peace Prize embrace embrace Vivekananda Kendra, India (2015); Akshaya Patra Foundation, India and Sulabh International (collectively, for 2016); Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India (2017) and Yohei Sasakawa, Japan (2018).