CBCI
New Delhi, Jul 19: Human rights activist and director of Prashant, Ahmedabad-based Jesuit centre for human rights, justice and peace, Jesuit Father Cedric Prakash awarded France’s civilian decoration recenlty at the French Embassy here.
The award was presented by the Ambassador of France, Dominique Girard who announced: “I have the utmost pleasure of presenting to you in the name of the President of the French Republic, Jacques Chirac, the award of Chevalier de la Legion d’Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour)."
“I warmly congratulate you on this distinction. By this award, France acknowledges your lifetime commitment to the defence and the promotion of human rights in India.”
The other awardees were: well-known “Godfather of Green Revolution” Dr MS Swaminathan, Chairman of the Inter-Governmental Panel on Climate Change Dr RK Pachauri and noted social worker and founder of SEWA Ms. Ela Bhat.
Present at the function among others were – CBCI Secretary General Archbishop Stanislaus Fernandes, Baroda Bishop Godefrey de Rosario, Ahmedabad Bishop Thomas Macwan, Delhi Auxiliary Bishop Anil Couto, and All India Catholic Union president John Dayal.
Father Prakash has been promoting the cause of human rights especially in Gujarat.
Among the many awards received by him are the Kabir Puraskar, which the President of India conferred on him in 1995 for promoting communal harmony and peace, and in 2003, the Indian Muslim Council, USA, presented him the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for humanitarian work.
Father Prakash is also the secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Western Region Catholic Bishops Council.
In his acceptance speech, Fr Cedric Prakash said: “I dedicate this honour to the memory of my dear friend Ashan Jafri who was so brutally murdered on March 1st, 2002, in spite of having all the right connections, in spite of being a well known secular face, in spite of being a former Member of Parliament!”
Also, “to the several other victims: fearless, nameless…of the Gujarat Carnage, who are desperately looking for a new dawn and finally to several of my co-activists, who in spite of having to face all obstacles, continue to fight for human rights, justice and peace,” Father Cedric said.