Kerala institute to bestow Gandhi Awards on U T Khadar, Anna Hazare

Media Release

Thiruvananthapuram, Nov 13: Media Research Institute, part of the famous Gandhian organization based at Thiruvanathapuram announced their Gandhi Award 2013. The special Gandhian award is for Anna Hazare.

Karnataka health minister U T Khadar and well known journalist T P Rajeevan and 5 others bagged the prestigious Gandhi Darshan Award 2013. Khadar bagged the award for his work towards improvement of rural health.

On behalf of the chairman of the award committee, renowned Gandhian Gopinathan Nair and the committee members Justice D Sreedevi and Padmabhushan Kavalam Narayana Panikar, the two other committee members, the head of Gandhian Ashram Mitra Nikethan, Padma K Vishwanathan and the former vice-chancellor of Kerala University Dr N A Kareem announced the award winners on Wednesday November at Thiruvanathapuram press club.

The seven awards announced for various categories are for literature, social work, political work, rural health, rural employment, medical service and business.

U T Khadar and T P Rajeevan have been settled in Mangalore region from a long time. In the 5-year long history of these awards, this is the first time that the award committee is considering people who reside outside Kerala. Also, this is the first time that someone outside of Kerala is getting honored by the Gandhian award which is announced for Anna Hazare.

The awards will be presented at a ceremony to be held in the month of December. As former President of India Dr AP J Abdul Kalam is expected to attend the event, the date will be finalized as per his and Anna Hazare's convenience.

About Gandhi Darshan 2013 award winners
 
U T Khadar (For Rural Health)

U T Khadar is the health minister of Karnataka. He is known for his dynamic leadership quality, and for working for the welfare of the poor. After becoming the health minister he has implemented several health programs for the welfare of the rural people. He is also the MLA of Mangalore constituency (Ullal).

T P Rajeevan (For Literature)
 
Rajeevan is a well-known writer from Kerala. By profession he is a journalist. He is working for Mathrubhumi national daily based in Mangalore. His writings reflect the Gandhian ethics. His great literary work “Upanayanam”, through which he established his name, won him accolades in the field of literature. The book is a long story written in the background of Sarnath, and is a heart breaking story against terrorism and violence.

Rajeevan has won several recognitions in the field of literature, as early as from his school days. He got literary awards from Mathrubhumi and Malayala Manorama when he was a student. He bagged the prestigious Azad Memorial Literary Award in his college days.

M K Raghavan (For Politics)
 
M K Raghavan is a native of Payyanoor. He represents Kozhikode constituency in the Lok Sabha. Payanoor is famous for freedom movement during the times from Gandhiji. That is why Raghavan too imbibed the Gandhian character from his childhood. As a politician, he has always stood with the poor and is dedicated towards their welfare.

Professor G Balachandran (For Rural Employment)
 
G Balachandran is the present chairperson of the National Coir Board. He has now retired from his post of a college professor. He has always worked with the labour class and dedicated his life for their welfare. He knows the importance of the cottage industry, especially for the employment of the rural people, and that the coir sector is as important as the khadi industry. Hence, he has been trying to utilize his power for the development of rural employment.

C R Neelakantan (For Social Work)

C R Neelakantan is a well-known social worker from Kerala. For the last several years he is has been at the forefront of almost all  struggles against injustice. He has been fighting for the poor, especially for the Adivasis and Dalits. His participation and leadership in the well-known struggles like Moolampalli made him a hero in Kerala. He has been fighting for good causes like save the nature, and he never compromises on any exploitation against nature. For the last several months he has been fighting against the Kootamkulam atomic power project situated in coastal Tamil Nadu.

Dr Kunjali (For his lifelong commitment and dedication to the treatment of the poor)

Dr Kunjali is a well-known heart specialist not only in Kerala but also in the Middle East. As a doctor he is known for his charitable work. He is praised by the mass for his dedication to the treatment of the poor.

Metro Muhammad Haji (For Business)

Muhammad Haji is a well-known business man from north Kerala. He is famous for his humanitarian work. He is respected by the society because of his honesty and ethics.