A R Rehman gets award
New Delhi, April 20 (PTI): The Mahatma Gandhi Foundation, Baha'i Foundation, music director A R Rehman and Japanese NGO Soka Gakai International were among 10 organisations and individuals presented with the `first-ever` `Mahavir-Mahatma` Awards today for excellence in the fields of human welfare and spiritual enlightenment.
The Art of Living Foundation, Mata Amritanandamayi Math, Isa Foundation for popularising yoga, Judah Hyam Synagogue which works to preserve and enrich Jewish culture in India, Sacred World Research Laboratory collating wisdom of different cultures of the world and Golden Age Foundation which has set up the Oneness University were the other awardees.
The `Mahavir-Mahatma` Awards -- instituted by the Oneness Forum of which Chairperson of the Times of India Group Indu Jain is the guiding force -- were presented at a ceremony here by Home Minister Shivraj Patil, Defence Minister Pranab Mukherjee and spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravishankar of the Art of Living Foundation.
The function also marked the formal launch of the Oneness Forum.
Speaking on the occasion, Patil said, "While people look different from each other from the outside, they are all the same when one delves deep. Once we realise this essential fact of existence, we can really love each other and realise the meaning of `non-violence`."
Jain said the purpose of establishing the Oneness Forum was to develop "connectivity" between different religions and communities.
http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/holnus/00920...00504202020.htm