Honour

NEHRU AWARD CONFERRED ON SINGAPORE PM

NEW DELHI: The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, conferred the Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding on the Singapore Prime Minister, Shri Goh Chok Tong, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 9 July. The award carries a trophy, citation and a purse of Rs. 25 lakhs.

Shri Goh, who arrived in the capital on 8 July, had a full schedule of meetings. He called on the President and the Vice-President, Shri B.S. Shekhawat, and held talks with the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, Shri Natwar Singh, the Congress president, Smt. Sonia Gandhi.

The Jawaharlal Nehru Award, since its inception in 1965, has been given to Nelson Mandela, Martin Luther King Jr., Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Yehudi Menuhin, Mother Teresa, Indira Gandhi, Kenneth Kaunda, Yasser Arafat, Aung San Suu Kyi, Mahatir Mohamed and Helmut Kohl, among others.

In his address at the award function, Shri Kalam said that Shri Goh, with his leadership and vision, had come to occupy a leading place among the statesmen of Asia. "At the same time, we remember and pay our respects to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, the first Prime Minister of free India …"

The President said Shri Goh had guided the destiny of Singapore and its people for a decade and a half.

In his acceptance speech, Shri Goh said that Nehru was a cosmopolitan, a nationalist and an intellectual giant. "Most of all, he was an inspiration to the generation that had fought to free themselves from colonial rule."

Stating that he was deeply honoured to be conferred with the Award, Shri Goh said that along with Mahatama Gandhi, Nehru taught Asians to stand up for their rights, and rediscover their heritage, dignity and self-worth.

"Unlike many who turned to revolutionary violence, Nehru walked the more difficult path of conciliation and peace towards independence, and made the difference. Nehru persevered and triumphed."

"He made it easy for many of us living in colonies to follow in his footsteps, along the path he created," the visiting Prime Minister said.

Shri Goh, who announced that he would be donating the prize money of Rs. 25 lakhs to the Singapore-India Foundation, felt that free trade agreements were not just economic, but strategic agreements.

Tributes to Jawaharlal Nehru

ALLAHABAD : The Congress paid floral tributes to the first prime minister of India Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, who is also remembered as the architect of modern India, here at the Anand Bhawan on his death anniversary on 27 May. An all-religion prayer meeting was also held.

Addressing the gathering, Congress Legislature Party leader, Shri Pramod Tiwari said that Pandit Nehru was a great leader and a guide who charted policies which were hailed globally. "His economic and foreign policies are still relevant today. His dream of a secular India has now become the foundation to keep the nations’ unity and integrity," he said. DCC spokesman, Shri Muharram Ali and PCC member Madhu Chakha said that Pandit Nehru was an apostle of peace.

The meeting was organized under the City Congress Committee senior vice-president, Shri Kanahyalal Gupta. Former Union Minister, Shri Rampoojan Patel, former State Home Minister, Shri Rajendra Tripathi, Shri Shyam Surat Upadhyay, Shri Kishore Varshney, Shri Ramayagya Trivedi were also present.

Prabha Rau is Maharashtra PCC Chief NEW DELHI: The Congress on 27 June appointed the former Member of Parliament, Smt. Prabha Rau, as the new Maharashtra Pradesh Congress Committee president in place of Shri Ranjit Deshmukh. Making the announcement here, the All India Congress Committee general secretary, Shri Vayalar Ravi, in-charge of the party affairs in the State, said the move was a step in the direction of preparing the Congress for the Assembly elections due to be held during September-October this year. Smt. Rau, 69, a Maratha from the Vidharbha region, returns to head the party’s State unit after about two decades. Her first stint was between 1984 and 1989. Smt. Rau was also a Minister in the State Cabinet from 1988 to 1990.