Presentation of ACHA Peace Star Award, 2008 to Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi

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Presentation of ACHA Peace Star Award, 2008 to Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi

Sant Vivek Das/Manoj kumar pandey 3/11/2008 3:01:03 PM(IST)


On 29th October, 2008 the Executive Director of Association for Communal Harmony in Asia (ACHA) Dr Pritam K Rohila has given ACHA Peace Star Award, 2008 to Dr Lenin Raghuvanshi, a social activist, during his peace pilgrimage to India and Pakistan. On the occasion Ashok Anand moderated the ceremony. In his introductory speech he explained all about Dr Lenin and his organization People’s Vigilance Committee on Human Right (PVCHR). He told how Dr Lenin and his organization PVCHR had strived for the upliftment of most deprived Mushar, Nat community, bonded labour women and children. The ways of Dr Lenin was not easy, it was full of thorn.


However, in spite of hindrances Dr Lenin neither forgot his mission nor deviated from his path. When he made free to the bonded labour, he came at the target of influential person, who are the owner of brick kiln and received many threat from them. Dr Lenin not only strived to make them free but also made efforts to settle their life. The labour also received compensation and wages form their owner through Court due to initiation taken by Dr Lenin. When he worked for the upliftment of the dalits, nats mushar, he faced protest from upper caste. Always he was made realized that he born in upper caste so he should efforts for upper caste. Dr Lenin feels the pain of mushar nats by going to their locality. He made them aware about their rights and opportunities. Due to efforts of Dr Lenin, the Mushar, and the Nat communities get up and demanded for their rights. Now they have white and red ration card. Due to which they get ration at subsidy rate from government. Their problems of hunger have been reduced to maximum extent. In last Mr Ashok Anand focused on the family life of Dr Lenin and said that Dr Lenin married with Ms Shruti Nagvanshi and has an eight year old son Kabir Karunik. Ms Shruti Nagvanshi gave her contributory support to Dr Lenin in all walk of his struggle.


On the occasion the senior advocate Tanveer Ahamad Siddique told why he has nominated Dr Lenin for this award. He expressed his views in emphasized way. He supported his views by saying that when no upper caste persons like to go in mushars and nats locality, Dr Lenin not only went to their localty but also felt their pain. He became the ray of hope for these deprived communities. Advocate Tanveer Ahamad Siddique also told that when the riot between Hindu and Muslim took place and every body was living under fearful and horrible environment and no one had courage to come out of his house, that time Dr Lenin courageously leaded mashal julus (fire march) form Lahurabir to Madanpura to protest the NSA charged against the 13 muslim person. That time he challenged the administration and compelled the administration to take back the NSA from these 13 persons. He said that he nominated Dr Lenin for ACHA Peace Star Award, 2008 because of his overwhelming work for justice to victims of bonded labour, deprived community, women, and children and for raising voice for community in minority. In last advocate Tanveer Ahamad Siddique expressed his commitment to assist Dr Lenin in legal matter.


Another senior advocate Harishankar Singh was also present at the occasion and admired the work of Dr Lenin and he also appreciated Ms Shruti Nagvanshi for her valuable support to Dr Lenin in every walk of life. He added that the work of Dr Lenin was not easy but heartily cooperation of Ms Shruti Nagvanshi made it easy. Advocate Harishankar Singh also offered his legal assistances to Dr Lenin if necessary.

The recipient of the ACHA Peace Star Award, 2008 Dr Lenin told the importance of opportunity in the life of the person by giving the example of Kalpu. Kalpu was a person of the so called lower community of Gorakhpur, went to Halland (the Netherland) as a labour, but he returned as one of the top most billionaire of that country. He supported his statement by saying that the so called upper caste community had grabbed the opportunities of lower caste community from more than three thousand years. If they might be given opportunities, they will be able to prove their ability and skill like upper caste people. Dr. Lenin also said that this honor is not only belongs to him, he dedicated his award to Varanasi city, his organization PVCHR and its members. Dr Lenin expressed his views that all communal riots are sponsored by politician, fundamentalist and extremists. They attack on muslim to destroy the small scale industries and cottage industries of weaving, artisan, and other domestic art, so that the foreign company may launch their product at higher prices. These politicians, extremists, and fundamentalists are the real culprit and the innocent citizens are the victim.

The chief guest of ceremony Dr. Pritam K. Rohila and his wife Mrs. Kundan also expressed his opinon. Dr Pritam K Rohila told about ACHA and said that after the demolition of Babri Masque in 1992 in Ayodhaya, a large scale massacre took placed in India and Pakistan. Communal riots in these countries took the life of many innocent people. It disturbs the peace of Asia. So it was decided to spread harmony in these two communnities. He founded ACHA in Portland, USA. This award has been started from 1995. This award is given to the person who promotes peace and harmony in communities in Asian countries. He also told that every year they select a theme for ACHA. This year’s theme is “peace in my family, harmony in my neighborhood.”



ACHA has a pledge of peace and harmony, which are as follows:

I pledge –

I will not use my hands or my words to harm anyone:

I will treat my sisters and daughters with at least as much love and respect as I treat my brothers and sons; and

I will treat all my neighbors as deserving of my respect, regardless of their class, sect, or religion.
He also appealed to organize Indo-Pak Peace Day on any day between 14th August Pakistan’s Independence Day and 21st September International Peace Day. He added that India and Pakistan are neither the enemies of each other nor they are dangerous for each other. So, first time in the history Pakistan has replaced its army from Indian border. It indicates that the environment of India and Pakistan is good at present. Both the countries are the victim of extremist and fundamentalist, who reside in these countries. He also said “if god creates us, why are we discriminating and spreading hatred among community? God treats us equal, who are we to treat the human community unequal?” This is dangerous for every one. He said that peace movement is not like the other movements against any particular task as the task completes the movements also finish. The peace movement is a precautionary measure and it should be promoted continuously so that the disturbances may be prevented. Peace movement is not a movement until general person will not cooperate. He also acknowledged the efforts of PVCHR for dalits, bonded labour, children and woman. He also said that this is the land of Mahavir, Buddha, Kabir etc, so he started his peace pilgrimage from India. He will also go to Pakistan to give this award to B.M. Kutty, Karamat Ali Mubshir Mirza during his peace pilgrimage. Mrs Kundan admired the work of Dr. Lenin and appealed to the people that if in so early age Dr. Lenin could do this job, why every person should not try to do the same. She said that she had learned many things from Dr. Lenin and PVCHR. She also appealed to the people to forget the past event which created enmity and overlook the mistakes committed by other and forgive them. She also appealed to the people to live with harmony, so that actual human development can take place.

Though the entire person acknowledged the work done by Dr Lenin and described their views from different angle, but in last every person recognized the importance of peace. All of them advocated maintaining peace in their family. Peace in family brings peace in society, peace in society brings peace in locality, and peace in locality brings peace in countries. All of these automatically bring peace in the world.


In last Ms. Shruti Nagvanshi expressed his thanks to Dr. Pritam K Rohila, his wife Mrs. Kundan, Advocate Tanveer Ahamad Siddiqui, Advocate Harishakar Singh, Ashok Anand and all the members and staff of PVCHR along with media person and other person presented at the occasion.


In this regard Archbishop Desmond Tutu, P C Alexgender - Retd. IPS & Human Right Defender, Sankar Sen - Retd IPS & Ex. Director of National Human Right Comission, Bijo Francis- Asian Human Right Commission, Chris Cusmano – Ashoka Innovator for public, Advt. Fr. Dibakar Parichcha – Secretary Social Communication Archdocese Cuttack, Bhubneshwar, Dr Darin – Srilankan Economist, Mr Eric- RCT, Advt. John Clancey - Chairperson Asian Human Right Commission, Mr Subodh – Chairperson Forum Asia, Nagi Maganti – Filmmaker, Baseer Naweed – Ashoka Fellow Pakistan, Shobha Nayer – Editor Dignity Dialogue, Henri – People’s Watch, Voice of People(VOP), Shabanam Hashmi –ANHAD, Awais Sheikh - Peace Ambassador President Pak-India Peace Initiatives, Kamal Pathak – Coordinator Documentation and Protection Unit Advocacy Forum-Nepal, Kate Currawalla - President Maharashtra Dyslexia Association, Amitabh Thakur - SP (intll), Faizabad, Faras Mukhtar - Country Director Strategic World Impact, etc have sent congratulation from the core of their heart to Dr Lenin Raguvanshi for this great achievement.



Sant Vivek Das is theHead Priest of Kabir ChauraMath.