Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration

Not to be confused with Indira Gandhi Prize.

The Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh giving away the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration to the Noted Film maker, Shri Shyam Benegal in New Delhi on October 31, 2004

The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration is a prestigious award accorded by the Indian National Congress, after Indira Gandhi, a former Prime Minister of India. The award is given annually, starting from 1985, to distinguished persons/institutions for promoting national integration and understanding and fellowship amongst religious groups, communities, ethnic groups, cultures, languages and traditions of India and the strengthening, through thought and action of the nation's sense of solidarity. The Awardee is selected by an Advisory Committee of eminent persons representing art, science, culture, education, literature, religion, social work, journalism, law and public life. The Award carries an amount of 5 lakh rupees in cash and a citation. The Award is given on the Martyr's Day. The Award is given for services deserving of recognition in the year to which the Award relates and two years immediately preceding it.^[1]

Recipients

The Award has so far been given to Swami Ranganathananda (1987), Aruna Asaf Ali, The Bharat Scouts and Guides (1987), Rafique Alam (1988), P. N. Haksar, M. S. Subbulakshmi (1990), Rajiv Gandhi (posthumous), Paramdham Ashram (Wardha, Maharashtra), Acharya Tulsi (1993), Bishambhar Nath Pande (1996), Beant Singh (posthumous) and Natwar Thakkar (jointly), Gandhi Institute of Public Affairs (Karnataka), Indira Gandhi Centre for National Integration (Shanti Niketan), A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Shankar Dayal Sharma (posthumous), Satish Dhawan, H. Y. Sharada Prasad, Ram-Rahim Nagar Slum Dwellers Association (Ahmedabad), Aaman Pathik Peace Volunteer Group (Ahmedabad), Ram Sinh Solanki and Sunil Tamaiche (jointly).^[2]

• 2002: Acharya Mahaprajna
• 2003: Shyam Benegal
• 2004: Mahashweta Devi
• 2005: Javed Akhtar
• 2006: Dr. J. S. Bandukwala and Ram Puniyani (jointly)^[3]
• 2008: Kasturba Gandhi National Memorial Trust^[4]
• 2009: Balraj Puri^[5]
• 2010: A. R. Rahman and Ramakrishna Mission Ashram (jointly)^[6]
• 2011: Mohan Dharia^[7]
• 2012: Gulzar^[8]
• 2013: M. S. Swaminathan^[9]
• 2014: Rajagopal P. V.^[10]
• 2015: T. M. Krishna
• 2016: T. M. Krishna
• 2017: Chandi Prasad Bhatt^[11]
• 2018: Chandi Prasad Bhatt^[11]
• 2019: Chandi Prasad Bhatt

References

1. herenow4u.net , accessed 23 April 2008.
2. https://www.inc.in/media/press-releases/press-release-english-and-hindi-indira-gandhi-award-for-national-integration-1
3. "PM's Address at the Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration". PIB, Prime Minister's Office. 31 October 2007.
4. "PM's Speech at the Indira Gandhi National Integration Award Function". PIB GOI. 31 October 2008. Retrieved 14 February 2023.
5. "Congress Sandesh" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 April 2012. Retrieved 10 November 2010.
6. "A R Rahman to receive Indira Gandhi Award". Times of India. 7 October 2010. Retrieved 7 October 2010.
7. "Mohan Dharia gets Indira Gandhi National Integration award". Money Control. 31 October 2011.
8. "Gulzar to get Indira Gandhi award for national integration". The Times of India. 30 September 2012. Archived from the original on 2 February 2014.
9. "M.S Swaminathan gets Indira Gandhi National Integration Award". The Hindu Businessline. Retrieved 6 August 2020.
10. Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration Archived 19 October 2017 at the Wayback Machine, ektaparishad.com
11. "Pioneer of Chipko movement Chandi Prasad Bhatt gets Indira Gandhi award". The Indian Express. 12 October 2019. Retrieved 15 October 2019.