NEW DELHI: The Indira Gandhi Award for National Integration for 2002 has been given to Acharya Mahaprajna, renowned Jain Muni and a Gandhian activist, it was announced on Friday.
The advisory committee for the award, with Congress president Sonia Gandhi in the chair, said the award was being given for his ‘‘yeoman contribution to the cause of non-violence, communal harmony and national integration’’.
The award, with a citation and Rs 1.51 lakh in cash, will be presented by Sonia Gandhi on October 31, the death anniversary of former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi. The acharya has conducted one lakh km of padyatras and has worked among the victims of last year’s riots in Gujarat.
President A P J Abdul Kalam spent his birthday with the Acharya at Surat earlier this week.