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$50,000 Guru
Nanak prize for Dalai Lama
WSN Network
NEW
YORK: Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso has been selected as the first
recipient of Hofstra's international Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize,
Hofstra President Stuart Rabinowitz announced on March 24 at the
Hofstra University Club, Mack Hall, North Campus. The prize comes at
a time when the Dalai Lama is being aggressively attacked by China
for alleged interference in its internal affairs even as Tibetian
activists around the world are launching sharp attacks, protests and
occasional violent expressions to stress their right to an
autonomous Tibet.
The $50,000
prize recognizes efforts at interfaith dialogue and will be
presented to Dalai Lama on November 18, 2008 in India by a
delegation including Hofstra officials, the family of Sardar Ishar
Singh Bindra, which established the prize at Hofstra, and former
Indian Prime Minister I.K. Gujral, a member of the Guru Nanak
Interfaith Prize Honorary Committee. The Dalai Lama has agreed to
visit Hofstra in the near future.
"There are few
missions as important for a university as the advancement of
understanding among all peoples," said Hofstra University President
Stuart Rabinowitz. "Awarding this prize allows us to recognize those
who bring together people of all faiths, which now, more than ever,
is important for the peace and prosperity of our world. We are
pleased to bestow Hofstra's inaugural Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize on
a person as worthy and renowned as His Holiness the Dalai Lama."
Tashi Wangdi,
the Dalai Lama's U.S. representative, accepted the prize today via
telephone on behalf of His Holiness during a news conference at
Hofstra. "We are very happy that this award has been given to His
Holiness in recognition of his many years of promoting interfaith
dialogue and understanding," he said.
Beijing has so
far not reacted to the latest development.
T.J. Bindra, son
of Ishar Bindra, said, "We are immensely pleased with the selection.
There could be no more deserving candidate than His Holiness, and to
me what stands out most is that Guru Nanak stood for brotherhood,
peace and wonderful relations between communities, and I think His
Holiness personifies that the best."
The prize, to be
awarded every other year, was established in 2006 through an
endowment from the family of Ishar Singh Bindra to be given by
Hofstra University to individuals or organizations that have worked
to facilitate the religious dialogue that is indispensable to
reducing religious conflict. The prize was named for the founder of
the Sikh religion and was meant to encourage understanding of
various religions and to build bridges between faith communities.
Guru Nanak believed that all humans were born equal regardless of
skin color, ethnicity, nationality and gender.
There were 75
individuals and groups nominated for the first prize, representing
interfaith efforts in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, as
well as throughout the United States and Canada.
The
establishment of the prize by Mr. Bindra's family followed the
creation of Hofstra's Department of Religion in 2005 and the
endowment of chairs in Sikh, Catholic and Jewish studies. The Sikh
chair -- the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies,
named for the family matriarch -- was also established through an
endowment from Mr. Bindra's family. Both gifts are intended to
increase understanding of different religions, including Sikhism, a
world religion with more than 20 million adherents.
Hofstra
University is a dynamic private institution where students can
choose from about 145 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in
liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and
allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of
Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach
small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction,
critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose
highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology,
extensive library resources, internships and special educational
programs that appeal to their interests and abilities. The Hofstra
community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find
and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.
Serving as the
honorary committee for the prize was the Hon. I.K. Gujral, former
prime minister of India; Nobel Peace Prize winner Archbishop Desmond
Tutu; the Hon. Charles Schumer and the Hon. Norm Coleman, U.S.
senators; Rabbi David Rosen of the American Jewish Committee; Dr.
Martin Marty of The Martin Marty Center; Mr. Khushwant Singh,
historian and journalist; and Mr.Tarlochan Singh, Member of
Parliament, India.
26
March 2008
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