Gautam Bhai to get 17th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award

New Delhi, Aug.4 (ANI): Gautam Bhai of Pawanar Ashram, Wardha in Maharashtra will get the 17th Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award.

The annual award, which carries a citation and cash award of Rs. 500,000, is given to individuals for their contribution towards promotion of communal harmony, peace and goodwill.

The decision was taken in the meeting of the committee on July 25, said Motilal Vora, Member Secretary of the Advisory Committee in a press statement.

The Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavana Award is given on the birthday of the late Prime Minister on August 20.

It was instituted to commemorate the lasting contribution made by the former Prime Minister to promote peace, communal harmony and fight against violence.

Former recipients of the award include Mother Teresa, Ustad Bismillah Khan, Hiteshwar Saikia and Subhadra Joshi (jointly), Lata Mangeshkar, Sunil Dutt, Dilip Kumar, Kapila Vatsyayan, Teesta Setalvad and Harsh Mander (jointly), S N Subbarao, Swami Agnivesh and Madari Moideen (jointly), K R Narayanan, Nirmala Deshpande, Hem Dutta and N Radhakrishnan.(ANI)