The Indian Government honoured the Ramakrishna Mission in Fiji with the ‘Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Award,’ at the Annual Pravasi Bharatiya Divas held in Delhi on January 9, 2014.
President Pranab Mukherjee presented the Award to Swami Tadananda, Secretary General of the Mission on the final day of the three-day convention of the Indian Diaspora at Vigyan Bhavan.
Impressive credentials
A citation said that Ramakrishna Mission, established in Fiji in 1937, has been involved in community service and philanthropic activities.
According to ‘The Jet,’ a web-based publication based in Suva, apart from charitable and humanitarian activities in Fiji, the Ramakrishna Mission plays an active role in education.
“The Mission runs Schools and Colleges in Fiji. During floods and natural calamities, it participates in relief and rehabilitation efforts. The work of the Ramakrishna Mission has contributed to promoting human values and harmony, peace and non-violence,” the publication said.
Former Governor General Sir Anand Satyanand, Auckland District Court Judge Dr Ajit Swaran Singh, businessman Yanktesh Permal Reddy, community leader Dr Satendra Singh are among prominent persons of Fijian origin honoured with the Samman Award in previous years.
Other recipients
Apart from Ramakrishna Mission, twelve individuals received the Bharatiya Samman Award this year. They were Ela Gandhi, granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi (South Africa), Kurian Varghese (Bahrain), Vasdev Chanchlani (Canada), Bikas Chandra Sanyal (France), Lisa Maria Singh (Australia), Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh (Netherlands), Sasindran Muthuvel (Papua New Guinea), Shihabudeen Vava Kunju (Saudi Arabia), Dr Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath (United Arab Emirates), Shailesh Lakhman Vara (United Kingdom), Dr Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai (USA), Renu Khator (USA).
