Honouring unity and activism: 6th Ankit Junaid social harmony award recognizes youth leadership

By A Representative

Bhramcahari Sudhanand Ji and Karan Rawat have been honoured with the sixth Ankit Junaid Social Harmony Award at the Gandhi Peace Foundation, New Delhi. The award, initiated by Khudai Khidmatgar in 2018, commemorates Hafiz Junaid and Ankit Saxena, both victims of communal violence, and aims to foster communal harmony among youth. The award includes a memento, certificate, shawl, and a cash prize.

The ceremony was attended by Magsaysay awardee Dr. Sandeep Pandey, socialist thinker and farmer leader Dr. Sunilam, senior Gandhian Ramesh Chand Sharma Ji, and Khudai Khidmatgar National Coordinator Faisal Khan. Following the award distribution, an interactive session on "Youth and Communalism" was conducted, moderated by Khudai Khidmatgar leader Rizwan Khan. Kripal Singh Mandloi spoke about the award’s mission, emphasizing the need to cultivate fraternity and coexistence among youth as future leaders of the nation.

Bhramcahari Sudhanand Ji recently completed his final year of LLB at Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna University, Uttarakhand. He has argued cases related to public interest across District Court Haridwar, Uttarakhand High Court, and the Supreme Court of India. Under the guidance of His Holiness Shri Gurudev Ji, he has committed himself to spiritual service and environmental activism, particularly focusing on the protection of the Ganga River.

Karan Rawat has been actively advocating for gender and religious minorities. He has collaborated with organizations such as The Humsafar Trust, Gandhinagar Pride Foundation, and grassroots initiatives like The Collective to promote inclusion and justice. His activism continues to support marginalized communities in their fight for equity and dignity.

Dr. Sunilam reflected on India's rural traditions, emphasizing the innate harmony and collective spirit of farming communities. He condemned political efforts to disrupt this unity and expressed solidarity with war-affected children in Gaza.

Dr. Sandeep Pandey highlighted the deeply ingrained caste-based discrimination, arguing that true social justice and human solidarity are the only means to combat hate. He called for embracing the philosophy of “Vasudeva Kutumbakam,” reinforcing universal compassion.

Senior Gandhian Ramesh Chand Sharma Ji reaffirmed India’s history of peaceful coexistence, criticizing divisive political agendas. He urged the revival of Gandhian values to restore communal harmony and concluded his remarks with a Gandhi bhajan.

Faisal Khan, Khudai Khidmatgar’s national coordinator, underscored the movement’s unwavering commitment to propagating peace in memory of Ankit and Junaid, reiterating the legacy of leaders such as Gandhi, Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan, and Baba Saheb Ambedkar.

Both awardees shared insights on youth and communalism, urging greater engagement in real social issues beyond communal divisions. Karan Rawat described his formative years in a Muslim-majority neighborhood, affirming his belief in unity beyond religion and caste. He dedicated his award to all victims of violence and injustice worldwide.

Sudhanand Ji reflected on his activism for the Ganga ecosystem, emphasizing the youth’s responsibility to shape an inclusive future based on constitutional values. He dedicated his award to Matri Sadan Ashram and Sant Swami Gyan Swaroop Sanand Ji.

Sameera Ahmed, leader of Khudai Khidmatgar’s women’s wing, congratulated the awardees, commending their dedication to humanity, equality, and peace-building. The event saw participation from several social activists and legal professionals, reinforcing collective efforts for communal harmony.

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

School job scam and the future of university degree holders in West Bengal

By Harasankar Adhikari The school recruitment controversy in West Bengal has emerged as one of the most serious governance challenges in recent years, raising concerns about transparency, institutional accountability, and the broader impact on society. Allegations that school jobs were obtained through irregular means have led to prolonged legal scrutiny, involving both the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court of India. In one instance, a panel for high school teacher recruitment was ultimately cancelled after several years of service, following extended judicial proceedings and debate.

New RTI draft rules inspired by citizen-unfriendly, overtly bureaucratic approach

By Venkatesh Nayak* The Department of Personnel and Training , Government of India has invited comments on a new set of Draft Rules (available in English only) to implement The Right to Information Act, 2005 . The RTI Rules were last amended in 2012 after a long period of consultation with various stakeholders. The Government’s move to put the draft RTI Rules out for people’s comments and suggestions for change is a welcome continuation of the tradition of public consultation. Positive aspects of the Draft RTI Rules While 60-65% of the Draft RTI Rules repeat the content of the 2012 RTI Rules, some new aspects deserve appreciation as they clarify the manner of implementation of key provisions of the RTI Act. These are: Provisions for dealing with non-compliance of the orders and directives of the Central Information Commission (CIC) by public authorities- this was missing in the 2012 RTI Rules. Non-compliance is increasingly becoming a major problem- two of my non-compliance cases are...

Search This Blog