Information about Some Awards/Prizes

SHANTI SWAROOP BHATNAGAR PRIZES

The Shanti Swarup Bhatnagar (SSB) Prizes are awarded annually by the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (CSIR) to outstanding Indian research workers in seven disciplines of Science and Technology. The SSB Prizes are awarded to scientists for their outstanding scientific contributions made primarily in India during last 5 years preceeding the year of the award are eligible for the Prize. The SSB Prize comprising a citation, a plaque and a cash award of Rs. 2 lakh is given to each selected person.

SHAHEED NIYOGI MEMORIAL AWARD FOR JOURNALISM

The award was instituted in 1998 to recognise the contribution of Journalists in upholding the legacy of Shanker Guja Niyogi, the firebrand trade union leader and social activist from Chhattisgarh, who was murdered on September 28, 1991 by the industrial mafia.

GOLDEN PEACOCK AWARDS

These awards have been instituted by the Institute of Directors in 1991 have given boost to Indian Industry. One can fairly assert that India's manufacturing success today is to a great measure due to the learning experience provided by the self assessment model on which the Golden Peacock Award is based. The Golden Peacock Awards are now considered as the holy grail of corporate excellence and its guidelines provide a checklist for improvement and self-assessment in areas of quality, innovation, training, governance, environment management and corporate social responsibility.

All institutions whether public, private, non-profit, government, business, manufacturing and service sector are eligible to apply. Leadership Awards are determined through nomination. They provide not only worldwide recognition and prestige but also a competitive advantage in driving business in this tumultuous world under Golden Peacock-award models. The awards are bestowed annually and are designed to encourage total improvement in each sector of business.

JAMNALAL BAJAJ AWARDS

In 1976, the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was established for promoting Gandhian constructive programmes and assisting constructive workers who devoted themselves to the national cause. The foundation has instituted four annual awards, each carrying a cash prize of Rs. 5,00,000 or its equivalent in foreign currency, a citation and a trophy. The awards are intended to recognise outstanding contribution in :

Constructive work

Application of science and technology for rural development

Upliftment and welfare of women and children and/or Gandhian constructive work by women workers

Promotion of Gandhian values outside India by individuals other than Indian citizens.

On the occasion of the Jamnalal Bajaj Birth Centenary, the foundation conferred on Dr. Nelson Mandela, a Special Award of Rs.5,00,000, a citation and a specially sculptured trophy. It was presented on 18 October 1990, at a special function held in Raj Bhavan, Calcutta, by the Governor of West Bengal and in the presence of Shri Jyoti Basu, Chief Minister of West Bengal.

The foundation has undertaken several rural development programmes in the Wardha district, Maharashtra, Kheri district and Shikohabad near Ferozabad in Uttar Pradesh. It also extends financial assistance to institutions and individuals engaged in social and welfare programmes.

GRAMMY AWARDS

The GRAMMY Foundation was established in 1989 to cultivate an awareness, appreciation and advancement of the contribution of recorded music. American culture from the artistic and technical legends of the past to the still unimagined musical breakthroughs of the future generations of the music professionals. The GRAMMY Foundation works in partnership with its founder, the Recording Academy, to bring national attention to important issues such as the value and impact of music and arts education and the urgency of preserving rich cultural legacy.

WORLD FOOD PRIZE

The Prize recognizes contributions in any field involved in the world food, supply-food and agriculture science and technology, manufacturing, marketing, nutrition, economics, poverty alleviation, political leadership and the social sciences. The prize was created in 1986 by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Norman Borland and since 1990 has been sponsored by business man and pilanthropist John Ruan, The winner receives US$ 2,50,000.

OSCAR AWARD

The annual Oscar presentation has been held since 1929. After three quarters of a century of recognizing excellence in cinema achievement, the annual presentation of the Oscar has become the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences' most famous activity. The Academy Award's Presentation is also the activity that enables the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to maintain its varied year round calendar of programs and events and a wide-ranging educational and cultural agenda.

All voting for Academy Awards is conducted by secret ballot and tabulated by the international auditing firm of Pricewaterhouse Cooper. Secrecy is maintained by the auditors the results of balloting are not revealed until the now-famous envelopes are opened on stage during the live television program. Because the Academy numbers among its members the ablest artists and craftsmen in the motion picture world, the Oscar represents the best achievements of the year in the opinion of those who themselves reside at the top of their craft.

RAMON MAGSAYSAY AWARD

Instituted in 1957 named after Ramon Magasaysay, President of the Philippines, who died in an air crash in 1957. He became world renowned figure in the 1950's for his land reform programme to defuse communist insurgency. The award is given annually on August 31st, the birth anniversary of Magsaysay, for outstanding contributions to Public Service, Community Leadership, Journalism, Literature and Creative Arts and International Understanding. It is equivalent to the Nobel Prize in Asia. It may also be awarded to organizations / institutions and non-Asians working for the benefit of Asia. It carries a cash prize of $50,000.

Indian Recipients : Mother Teresa (1962), Jockin Arputham (2000), L. Ramdas (2004). For Lterature, Journalism and Creative Communication Arts : Amitabh Chaudhury (1961), Satyajit Ray (1967), B, G, Vergheese (1975), Shambu Mitra (1976), Gour Kishore Ghosh (1981), Arun Shourie (1982), R, K, Lakshman (1984), K, V, Subbanna (1991), Mahasweta Devi (1997), P. Sainath (2007).

For Community Leadership : Acharya Vinobha Bhave (1958), Dara N, Khurodi , Thribhuvan Das K, Patel and Vergheese Kurian (1963), Kamaladevi Chattopdhyaya (1966), M, S, Swaminathan (1971), L, R, Bhat (1977), Rajanikant S, Arole and Mabelle R, Arole (1979), Panduranga Athavale (1996), Ms. Aruna Roy (2000), Rajendra Singh (2001), Ms. Shanta Sinha (2003), Prakash Amte and his wife Mandakini Amte (2008).

For Public Service : Jaya Prakash Narayan (1965), M, S, Subalakshmi (1974), Manibhai Desai (1982), Muralidhar Devidas Amte (1985), L, C, Jain (1989), M S Mehta (1997), V, Sharma (2005)

For Government Service : C, D, Deshmukh (1959), Kiran Bedi (1994), T, N, Seshan (1996), J, M, Lyngodh (2003).

For Emergent Leadership : Sandeep Pandey (2002), Arvind Kejriwal (2006).