Tuesday 5 June 2012

Maanav Adhikaar Paaritaushik for 2011

The Maanav Adhikaar Paaritaushik (Human Dignity Award) of Rupees One Lakh, in memory of Professor M. M. Guptara is awarded for 2011 to Mr & Mrs Chandra Kant Shourie, of Satya Niketan School, Nagod, Madhya Pradesh.

The citation reads:

"In spite of having hardly any resources or support, the Shouries founded in 1985 a school in one of the most backward areas of our country (Nagod, Madhya Pradesh).

"Starting by transforming their own living room each morning into the first classroom for the initial kindergarden class of 20 children sitting on the floor on mats and around an old dining table, the now-fully-fledged High School has 650 pupils producing outstanding results all the way to 12th grade, with teachers trained in India as well as abroad.

"Satya Niketan is the only high school in the area providing quality education through English so that the children get a chance to go forward in the world, equipped to address the challenges of higher education in the different fields which are opening up in our country.

"Particularly noteworthy is their work with children from very poor homes, who would probably never have been educated otherwise. Satya Niketan alumni are working as engineers, IT professionals, doctors and  other fields, earning enough to lift their families out of the vicious cycle of poverty.

"Equally important, Satya Niketan has become a channel of dialogue with society, challenging long held superstitions and beliefs which have been detrimental to the development of our society and nation: a point of challenge and change, as every educational institution ought to be".

The Guptara family appreciates Mr and Mrs Shourie's lifetime of dedicated service, of which this award is only a very poor and inadequate token of recognition.  "The Shourie family's contribution to the area has been outstanding, and their contribution to our country has been exemplary, as they have helped people of all backgrounds, particularly female students, and those of a poor economic and caste status" said Professor Prabhu Guptara, son of Professor M. M. Guptara.

ENDS

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