The Ramakrishna Mission has been awarded the Gandhi Peace Prize for 1998 for its pioneering role in social, economic, and political transformation through non-violence. This was announced in New Delhi today by Human Resources Development Minister Murli Manohar Joshi.

The prize carries a cash award of Rs 10 million, a citation, and a plaque.

This is the first time an organisation has bagged this international award since it was instituted in 1995.

The award will be presented at a ceremony in January by President K R Narayanan.

A jury chaired by Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee unanimously chose the Ramakrishna Mission for the prestigious award. The other members of the jury were Chief Justice of India Madan Mohan Punchhi, Leader of the Opposition Sharad Pawar, former President Ramaswamy Venkataraman and 1996 Gandhi Prize winner Dr A T Ariyaratne of Sri Lanka.

Dr Joshi said the mission was chosen, from among 53 nominees, for its charitable and philanthropic work. "This prize honours the commitment and contribution of the mission towards the amelioration of human suffering and undertaking activities which are close to the ideals of Mahatma Gandhi," he said.

The minister also announced the government's decision to sanction Rs 14 million for the repair of Swami Vivekanand's ancestral house in Calcutta.

The Ramakrishna Mission has been working among the disadvantaged sections of society to remove ignorance, poverty, and hatred. It runs schools, colleges, hospitals, and orphanages. It also preaches religious tolerance and the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramhans through books, journals, and lectures.

Founded by Swami Vivekanand in 1897, the mission today has 135 branches in different parts of India and in countries like Bangladesh, Burma, Sri Lanka, Mauritius, the United Kingdom, the United States, France, Switzerland, Argentina, Fiji, Japan, and Russia.

Former Tanzanian president Julius K Nyerere was the first recipient of the Gandhi Peace Prize. Dr Ariyaratne, a social scientist, won the award in 1996 while Dr Gerhard Fischer, former German diplomat, was the winner in 1997.

Nominations for the prize were invited from individuals and organisations all over the world, including MPs, Nobel laureates, the United Nations secretary-general, vice-chancellors, heads of institutions conducting studies and research in non-violence and Gandhian principles, the Commonwealth secretary-general, the Commonwealth Parliamentary Union, the International Parliamentary Union, governors and chief ministers.

UNI

The Gandhi Peace Prize, India's highest honour, was awarded for the first time to an institution - Ramakrishna Mission. In a solemn ceremony, President K.R. Narayanan presented the citation, plaque and Rs 1 crore prize to Swami Ranganathananda, the newly appointed chief of the over a century-old order established by Swami Vivekananda.

The citation notes that the Ramakrishna Mission "exemplifies the Gandhian spirit of selfless and active social action". Offering its services "irrespective of caste, creed and language", the mission has promoted communal harmony by preaching and practising harmony of religions, the citation states. Committed to providing relief and rehabilitation for natural disaster victims, education and health care, the Ramakrishna Mission has also worked for women's empowerment through the Sarada Math and Mission, the citation read.

Later Union human resources minister Murli Manohar Joshi handed over a cheque for Rs 70 lakhs to the Ramakrishna Mission at Belur Math for repair and renovation of Swami Vivekananda's ancestral home. Another Rs 1 crore is being given for the mission's institute of culture for buying land and expanding its facilities.

West Bengal chief minister Jyoti Basu on Saturday said the Ramakrishna Mission was an 'excellent' choice for the Gandhi Peace Prize.

"Excellent, excellent," the veteran Marxist leader exclaimed when newsmen at the Raj Bhavan wanted his comments on the conferring of the prize to the Ramakrishna Mission.

December 31, 1998

PRESS RELEASE

The following is a message from the President, Shri K.R. Narayanan on the demise of Swami Lokeshwaranandaji:

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In the passing of Swami Lokeshwaranandaji we have lost a scholar-sage, whose compassion was as great as his vast learning. He was a shining example of the ethos of the Ramakrishna Order, which has provided a unique spiritual anchorage to our times as well as practical service to the poor and needy. I was fortunate in having known Swami Lokeshwarananda for a number of years, specially during the period I was Patron of the Ramakrishna Mission Institute of Culture and had received the benefit of his enlightened and affectionate consideration. When I called on him some weeks ago, he was as immersed in programmes for the spread of the Order's work as always, regardless of his
debilitated health. His loss will be hard to reconcile to. My wife and my daughter join me in paying homage to Swami Lokeshwaranandaji's fragrant memory and in extending our deepest sympathy to the monks of the Ramakrishna Mission Order and to Swamiji's innumerable associates and disciples.