A Reflection
Maja Koene
Award 2021
This year happens to be the 21st year that Maja
left us from this material world. But she is still alive through the CESCI Centre
in this far away Kadavoor village, near Madurai. After her departure the
committee of CESCI has decided to create a Maja Koene Award for those who are
doing good work in the society. This year the award went to six personalities under
three categories, two for Social Activist, three for Social Journalist and one for
Peace Promotion.
Mr. Ashok Sajjanhar a former ambassador was the chief guest and
a sharing session was arranged on the 21st February morning. It was
a wonderful opportunity for the awardees to share their good work in terms of
what they are doing for the betterment of the society and also the process they
adopted.
·
Mr.
Inamul Hasan is involved in many important activities including promotion of
communal harmony and anti-liquor campaigns. He has undertaken many padaytras to
mobilise people around critical issues that are impacting the society. Mr.
Inamul Hasan is an inspiration to many young people and he provides them a
basic understanding of Mahatma Gandhi and his philosophy.
·
Neki
is a well-known organization led by a group of committed social workers like
Mr. Pushparag in the district of Guna in Madhya Pradesh. Neki is involved in
many activities in and around Guna district. Their contribution in the field of
environment protection deserves a special mention. Their activities in the
field of poverty eradication are appreciated by one and all. Neki has also
transformed many acres of dry land into green land by involving local people of
all ages and background. Initiatives like Neki ke Diwar (the wall of goodness),
Neki Hospital, etc., are all good examples for others to follow.
·
Dr.
Gopi Puthukode
is a popular writer and his excellent work in the field of Malayalam literature
is appreciated by one and all. Dr. Gopi Puthukode has published many books of
which some have found their place in the school curriculum in Kerala. His work
in the field of documenting local history is a path breaking initiative and its
worth for other writers to follow his path.
· Ms. Chithra Balasubramanian
is a well-known journalist and her articles on critical issues are published in
many magazines and journals on a regular basis. Through various discussion
forums Ms. Chithra is helping people to deepen their understanding on Mahatma
Gandhi and his ideas. She is also encouraging political leaders to speak about
Mahatma Gandhi and his role by inviting them for discussions in channels.
Through her work she is encouraging many young people to follow the values
proposed by Mahatma Gandhi.
· The Optimist Citizen is
a publication initiated by a group of young people in Bhopal. This particular
initiative is the result of a deep realization that media can be a creative
tool to promote positive atmosphere in a society. In spite of all the hardships
faced through years this group of young people has continued to publish this newspaper
and influence the thought process of many. Their works is a path breaking task
and are sure that their initiative will inspire the world of journalism in the
coming years.
·
Dr. S.
Kulandaisamy works through Gandhi Peace Foundation, Chennai. He has
introduced Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave to thousands of students and young
people through his articles and books. Dr. Kulandaisamy with the help of Ms.
Shembagavalli has taken the message of peace and nonviolence to many schools
and colleges. He has also published a regular column in The Hindu for children.
His work is recognized and appreciated nationally and globally by many
individuals and organizations that are committed to the agenda of youth, peace,
and nonviolence.
Listening to the stories of all the above awardees was highly
inspiring. All of them have engaged communities for a long time in different ways
and deserved such a recognition. The award constituted in the name of Maja is
going to the right persons and her spirit continue to live.
Visitors in the CESCI Campus
·
Mr.
Avani Kumar from Delhi was at CESCI to participate in it’s general Body meeting
and also to participate in the Maja Award program. His lifestyle demonstrated
how Trusteeship works in practice. It
was really good to see his large heartedness. In the CESCI meeting he offered the
Jai Jagat Centre as a gift for organizing training programs for promoting peace
and nonviolence. Generally, people are fighting for wealth but here is a
person, who believes in giving away wealth, property so that it can be put into
common good for promoting peace and justice in the world.
·
Another
person was Mr. Anish from Bangalore. It
was his first visit to CESCI and here he had an opportunity to meet and
interact with many people. Before leaving for Bangalore Rajaji asked him what
is his take away? He said, as a corporate employee he never had any chance to
see such organizations and such people. CESCI has given him the opportunity to enhance
his understanding on peace building process. He is eager to explore more by being
with Ekta Parishad in the field. He is willing to offer his services by
supporting youth training programme through creative art.
·
Mr.
Arun Sheravat from Delhi was here to meet Rajaji and also to participate in the
award program. His stay in CESCI for about a week made him completely a different
person. He never thought that a place or a group of people can influence his
life so deeply. His idea to promote bicycle as a solution to the problem of
climate crisis and he is looking for partners in this project. Here I can recollect an incident that an
Australian friend who visited CESCI told me that “after spending few weeks in
this campus and the experience transformed him to a new person”. With this new realization
he went back to his wife in Australia and better relationship turned colorful.
Many other discussions were also held in the campus during those
two weeks in February 2021. One can feel that many decisions impacting at many
levels of actions were taken in CESCI and these discussions were always to
promote peace and justice in the world.
Biju Kallidumbil
23rd February 2021
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