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Heed message of humanism: Kalam

By Our Diplomatic Correspondent

The President, A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, presenting the 2001 Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development to Sadako Ogata, former United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, at a function in Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, on Tuesday. The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, and Natwar Singh, Member, Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust, are also seen. — Photo: Shanker Chakravarty

NEW DELHI NOV. 19. The President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, today presented the Indira Gandhi International Award for Peace, Disarmament and Development, 2001, to the Japanese diplomat and human rights activist, Sadako Ogata. He said India should heed Prof. Ogata's message of humanism and shed differences in the name of religion, caste, haves and have-nots.

The award, which consists of Rs. 33 lakhs and a plaque, was given to the former U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Dr. Kalam said she had been chosen for the prestigious award for alleviating the pain of millions of refugees all over the world. ``Prof. Ogata has an excellent range of achievements from being an acknowledged expert on diplomatic history and international relations to having been very closely associated with the U.N. in the area of human rights and refugees. She protected and assisted millions of people who have to leave the country because of war, conflict and persecution.''

The President said the care and compassion for the downtrodden and the underprivileged, which she had brought to bear on her work, was exactly in line with the ideals of the former Prime Minister, Indira Gandhi.

The Prime Minister, Atal Behari Vajpayee, said: ``We need more international civil servants like Prof. Ogata with the vision, compassion and commitment to pursue the humanitarian objective.'' — UNI

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