The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is one of India’s most prestigious Awards, administered by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. The Prize was instituted to commemorate Indira Gandhi’s outstanding contribution to India and Global well-being, as well as to promote the laudable causes she espoused.
Since its establishment in 1986, the Prize is awarded annually “to a person or organization without any distinction of nationality, race or religion, in recognition of efforts towards promoting international peace and disarmament; racial equality, goodwill and harmony among nations; securing economic cooperation and promoting a new international economic order; accelerating the all-round advancement of developing nations, and enlarging the scope of freedom and enriching human spirit.”
After receiving nominations from around the World, final selection for the Prize is made by a Jury of eminent persons, headed by the Prime Minister of India Dr. Manmohan Singh and including eminent International Scientists and Jurists.
The 2012 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development is being awarded to Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf for serving as “an example and an inspiration to many a woman in Africa and beyond; for ensuring the return of peace, democracy, development, security and order in Liberia; and her strong interest in the consolidation and improvement of Liberia’s relations with India since her first election as President in 2005 and her re - election in 2011”.
Moreover, President Sirleaf has been singled out for the prize for restoring financial health to Liberia which was on the verge of Fiscal Breakdown. Fiscal prudence and economic planning has seen economic recovery and development to Liberia. President Sirleaf’s determination to promote reconciliation remains undaunted. In the world, particularly among developing countries, where progress is always confronted by social issues, President Sirleaf has been able to surmount many obstacles in seeing the return of Liberia back into the comity of Nations as an equal and respected member. Her policies to reach out have seen restoration of peace within Liberia’s borders and understating with its neighbors.
Previous recipients of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development include: former Soviet President, Mikhail S. Gorbachev (1987); former Prime Minister of Norway, Her Excellency Gro Harlem Brundtland (1988); former President of Namibia, Sam Nujoma (1990); former President of Czech Republic, His Excellency Dr. Vaclav Havel (1993); former Head of State of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, General Olusegun Obasanjo (1995); former United States President, Jimmy Carter (1997); former President of Ireland, Mrs. Mary Robinson (2000); former UN Secretary General, Kofi Annan (2003); the President of Afghanistan, Hamid Karzai (2005); the Prime Minister of Bangladesh, Mrs. Sheikh Hasina (2009); former President of Brazil, His Excellency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva (2010); among others.
According to Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva, Honorary Consul General of India in Liberia, the Award will be conferred upon Her Excellency Mrs. Ellen Johnson Sirleaf by the President of India His Excellency Pranab Mukherjee during her visit to India which is being arranged.
Flashback: India Honorary Consul General to Liberia, Mr. Upjit Singh Sachdeva (Jeety) along with President Johnson-Sirleaf after he had been decorated by President Sirleaf when he recieved one of Liberia's highest honors