DEHRADUN: For his contribution towards the environment and
society through Gandhian philosophy, noted environmentalist and pioneer of the
Chipko movement, Chandi Prasad Bhatt, has
been selected for the Gandhi Peace Prize for
2013. The announcement has put Bhatt in a list that includes the likes of Nelson
Mandela and Desmond Tutu, who were earlier vested with the prestigious award.
A jury headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and comprising Chief Justice P Sathasivam, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Rajya Sabha member Karan Singh selected Bhatt for the award.
Gandhi Peace Prize is an award that is bestowed to individuals and organizations for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through peace and other Gandhian methods.
On Saturday, the Gandhian was at Vikas Nagar to attend a lecture. "Even at the age of 79, he leaves Gopeshwar (a city in Chamoli) at least four to five times a month to attend meetings, lectures on social and environmental causes. Even younger people do not dare to do that as Gopeshwar, is about 1,300 metre above the sea level, and it gets all the more difficult in winters," Bhuvan, Bhatt's son told TOI.
Born on June 23, 1934, Bhatt was one of the pioneers of Chipko movement, adopting non-violence in preventing deforestation in the Garhwal Himalayas by hugging trees to prevent them from being felled during the early 70s.
For his contribution towards the movement which later spread throughout the country, he was awarded the Raman Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1982. In 2005, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in the country.
Recalling his bond with Bhatt which dates back to over three decades, Padma Shri Anil Joshi said, "He is a true torch-bearer of Gandhian principles and it is a huge honour for him as well as the entire state.. We have been in regular touch and he has been a source of inspiration for me and other environmentalists."
A jury headed by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and comprising Chief Justice P Sathasivam, leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha Sushma Swaraj former West Bengal governor Gopalkrishna Gandhi and Rajya Sabha member Karan Singh selected Bhatt for the award.
Gandhi Peace Prize is an award that is bestowed to individuals and organizations for their contributions towards social, economic and political transformation through peace and other Gandhian methods.
On Saturday, the Gandhian was at Vikas Nagar to attend a lecture. "Even at the age of 79, he leaves Gopeshwar (a city in Chamoli) at least four to five times a month to attend meetings, lectures on social and environmental causes. Even younger people do not dare to do that as Gopeshwar, is about 1,300 metre above the sea level, and it gets all the more difficult in winters," Bhuvan, Bhatt's son told TOI.
Born on June 23, 1934, Bhatt was one of the pioneers of Chipko movement, adopting non-violence in preventing deforestation in the Garhwal Himalayas by hugging trees to prevent them from being felled during the early 70s.
For his contribution towards the movement which later spread throughout the country, he was awarded the Raman Magsaysay Award for Community Leadership in 1982. In 2005, he was conferred the Padma Bhushan, the third highest civilian award in the country.
Recalling his bond with Bhatt which dates back to over three decades, Padma Shri Anil Joshi said, "He is a true torch-bearer of Gandhian principles and it is a huge honour for him as well as the entire state.. We have been in regular touch and he has been a source of inspiration for me and other environmentalists."
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