The Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development for 2023 has been jointly awarded to Daniel Barenboim, an Argentine-Israeli classical pianist and conductor, and Ali Abu Awwad, Palestinian peace activist, for their efforts towards a non-violent resolution of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
- They utilised instruments of music and people’s action to promote meaningful political and humanitarian dialogue, mutual social and cultural understanding, and peaceful public cooperation.
- They brought together the youth and peoples of Israel and the Arab World for a peaceful resolution of the ongoing conflict in the Middle East
Note: The international jury of the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development was chaired by former Chief Justice T S Thakur.
About Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace:
i.It is an annual prestigious award and has been named after former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi.
ii.It has been conferred every year since 1986 by the Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust. It consists of a monetary award of Rs 25 lakh along with a citation.
iii.It recognises individuals or organisations contributing to international peace, disarmament, and development.
About Daniel Barenboim:
i.He is renowned for performing with and directing some of the leading orchestras of the world and is known for his efforts to use music to foster harmony in West Asia.
ii.He along with Palestinian-American literary critic Edward Said founded the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra in 1999. It is an ensemble comprising young musicians from the Middle East, including Israelis, Palestinians, and others.
- It has become a symbol of hope and a space for dialogue and gained a permanent base in Berlin’s (Germany) Pierre Boulez Saal, in March 2017.
Awards/Honours: His awards and honours, including the titles of Grand Officier in France’s Légion d’Honneur and Knight Commander of the British Empire (KBE) among others.
About Ali Abu Awwad:
i.He is a prominent Palestinian peace activist who has worked in peace-building in Israel and the State of Palestine for years.
ii.In 2014, he co-founded a Palestinian-Israeli initiative called Roots to promote understanding, nonviolence, and transformation.
iii.In 2016, he created a Palestinian non-violence movement called Taghyeer, which envisions a democratic, independent Palestinian society based on freedom, dignity, and security for all.
Awards: He was awarded the 2023 Luxembourg Peace Prize as an Outstanding Peace Activist.
Recent related News:
On 19 November 2023, the Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament, and Development 2022 was jointly awarded to the New Delhi, Delhi headquartered Indian Medical Association (IMA) and the New Delhi based Trained Nurses Association of India (TNAI) as representatives of COVID-19 warriors in India.
About Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust:
Chairperson– Sonia Gandhi
Headquarters- New Delhi, Delhi
