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

Whither space for the marginalised in Kerala's privately-driven townships after landslides?

By Ipshita Basu, Sudheesh R.C. In the early hours of July 30 2024, a landslide in the Wayanad district of Kerala state, India, killed 400 people. The Punjirimattom, Mundakkai, Vellarimala and Chooralmala villages in the Western Ghats mountain range turned into a dystopian rubble of uprooted trees and debris.

From algorithms to exploitation: New report exposes plight of India's gig workers

By Jag Jivan The recent report, "State of Finance in India Report 2024-25," released by a coalition including the Centre for Financial Accountability, Focus on the Global South, and other organizations, paints a stark picture of India's burgeoning digital economy, particularly highlighting the exploitation faced by gig workers on platform-based services.

Gig workers hold online strike on republic day; nationwide protests planned on February 3

By A Representative Gig and platform service workers across the country observed a nationwide online strike on Republic Day, responding to a call given by the Gig & Platform Service Workers Union (GIPSWU) to protest what it described as exploitation, insecurity and denial of basic worker rights in the platform economy. The union said women gig workers led the January 26 action by switching off their work apps as a mark of protest.

'Condonation of war crimes against women and children’: IPSN on Trump’s Gaza Board

By A Representative The India-Palestine Solidarity Network (IPSN) has strongly condemned the announcement of a proposed “Board of Peace” for Gaza and Palestine by former US President Donald J. Trump, calling it an initiative that “condones war crimes against children and women” and “rubs salt in Palestinian wounds.”

India’s road to sustainability: Why alternative fuels matter beyond electric vehicles

By Suyash Gupta* India’s worsening air quality makes the shift towards clean mobility urgent. However, while electric vehicles (EVs) are central to India’s strategy, they alone cannot address the country’s diverse pollution and energy challenges.

With infant mortality rate of 5, better than US, guarantee to live is 'alive' in Kerala

By Nabil Abdul Majeed, Nitheesh Narayanan In 1945, two years prior to India's independence, the current Chief Minister of Kerala, Pinarayi Vijayan, was born into a working-class family in northern Kerala. He was his mother’s fourteenth child; of the thirteen siblings born before him, only two survived. His mother was an agricultural labourer and his father a toddy tapper. They belonged to a downtrodden caste, deemed untouchable under the Indian caste system.

Jayanthi Natarajan "never stood by tribals' rights" in MNC Vedanta's move to mine Niyamigiri Hills in Odisha

By A Representative The Odisha Chapter of the Campaign for Survival and Dignity (CSD), which played a vital role in the struggle for the enactment of historic Forest Rights Act, 2006 has blamed former Union environment minister Jaynaynthi Natarjan for failing to play any vital role to defend the tribals' rights in the forest areas during her tenure under the former UPA government. Countering her recent statement that she rejected environmental clearance to Vendanta, the top UK-based NMC, despite tremendous pressure from her colleagues in Cabinet and huge criticism from industry, and the claim that her decision was “upheld by the Supreme Court”, the CSD said this is simply not true, and actually she "disrespected" FRA.

Stands 'exposed': Cavalier attitude towards rushed construction of Char Dham project

By Bharat Dogra* The nation heaved a big sigh of relief when the 41 workers trapped in the under-construction Silkyara-Barkot tunnel (Uttarkashi district of Uttarakhand) were finally rescued on November 28 after a 17-day rescue effort. All those involved in the rescue effort deserve a big thanks of the entire country. The government deserves appreciation for providing all-round support.

Over 40% of gig workers earn below ₹15,000 a month: Economic Survey

By A Representative The Finance Minister, Nirmala Sitharaman, while reviewing the Economic Survey in Parliament on Tuesday, highlighted the rapid growth of gig and platform workers in India. According to the Survey, the number of gig workers has increased from 7.7 million to around 12 million, marking a growth of about 55 percent. Their share in the overall workforce is projected to rise from 2 percent to 6.7 percent, with gig workers expected to contribute approximately ₹2.35 lakh crore to the GDP by 2030. The Survey also noted that over 40 percent of gig workers earn less than ₹15,000 per month.

Search This Blog