Kalam confers Gandhi Peace Prize on Desmond Tutu

New Delhi, Jan 31 (UNI) South Africa's anti-apartheid leader, Archbishop Desmond Tutu, was today conferred with the Rs one crore Gandhi Peace Prize for his invaluable contribution towards social and political transformation and forging equality in South Africa through dialogue and tolerance.

President A P J Abdul Kalam presented the 2005 prize, which also carries a citation, to the 1984 Nobel Peace Prize winner at a glittering function held at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.

The Archbishop is the second leader from South Africa to get the prize, the first being former President Dr Nelson Mandela who was conferred with the honour along the Grameen Bank of Bangladesh in 2000.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Cabinet colleagues, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha were among those who attended the function.

''By honouring this noble human being with the Gandhi Peace Prize in this historic year of centenary of the birth of Satyagraha, India acknowledges her debt to South Africa for helping a young lawyer find his moorings and take him to the heights of becoming a Mahatma -- a great soul,'' the citation said.

In his remarks, Dr Kalam said the Archbishop's contributions to forging equality were a ''big lesson'' for everyone.

Describing the South African leader as a ''living Gandhi,'' Dr Singh said no one could be a better example as a follower of Gandhian principles than the Archbishop.

In his acceptance speech, the Nobel laureate sought India's help in securing the freedom of Tibet, causing embarrassment to the government.

A top government functionary immediately sought to prevent a major controversy, stating that there was no change in the stand of India which had recognised Sikkim as an autonomous region of China.

The South African Cleric and activist, the first black person to lead the Anglican Church in South Africa, rose to world-wide fame as an opponent of apartheid. He consistently worked for reconciliation among all parties involved in apartheid through his writings and lectures at home and abroad.

For his role as a unifying leader figure in the campaign to resolve the problem of apartheid in South Africa, he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in October, 1984. After the fall of apartheid he headed the Truth and Reconciliation Commission for which he was awarded the Sydney Peace Prize in 1999.

The Archbishop has strongly advocated human rights and democracy in Palestine and Indonesia. His championship of democratic rights and criticism of human rights abuse has been consistent and a great moral support to the oppressed everywhere.

India had launched the Gandhi Peace Prize in 1995 on the occasion of 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Jury for selection of the awardee from among the nominees comprises five members -- Prime Minister of India (Chairman), the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, the Chief Justice of India and two other eminent persons.

At present, Mr R Venkataraman, former President of India, and Mr I K Gujral, former Prime Minister, are the two members of the Jury in the eminent persons' category.

The earlier winners of the Gandhi Peace Prize are former Tanzanian President Dr Julius Nyerere (1995), Sarvodaya Movement's Founder President Dr A T Ariyaratne of Sri Lanka (1996), Dr Gerhard Fischer of Germany (1997), Ramakrishna Mission, India (1998) Baba Amte (Murlidhar Devidas Amte), India (1999), former South African President Dr Nelson Mandela and Grameen Bank of Bangladesh (2000), Mr John Hume, Ireland (2001), Bharatiya Vidya Bhawan, India (2002), and former Czechoslovakia President Vaclav Havel (2003).

The winner of the 2005 prize was chosen by the Jury at a meeting on September 26, 2006 chaired by Dr Manmohan Singh.

UNI