National Harmony Award

National Communal Harmony Award For Fr Dominic Emmamnuel SVD
NEW DELHI, JAN. 27, 2009, 14.20 Hrs (CBCI News):
Dr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD and Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan have been selected for the National Communal Harmony Award for the year 2008. The Jury, headed by the Vice-President of India, selected Dr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD, Delhi in the individual category and a Delhi based organisation Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan in the organisation category.
Dr. Dominic Emmanuel SVD, aged 57 years, has been working for communal harmony for the past two decades. Having a Ph. D. on 'Communication as Dialogue: Its Progressive Recognition in Modern Christian, Academic and Broadcast Discourses', Dr. Emmanuel has been in the service of inter-religious dialogue. He has been actively involved in resolving conflicts/ differences between different communities. His literary works include 14 books on subjects covering value education for school children and communal harmony. He has been contributing articles in national dailies for the promotion of communal harmony and national integration. He has worked as Radio Journalist on the themes of communal harmony. He also participated in sadbhavna yatras in the aftermath of Gujarat riots 2002. He is also one of the founding members of Parliament of Religions (Sarvadharam Sadbhav).
Anjuman Sair-e-Gul Faroshan, Delhi was established in the year 1964 and has been working for communal harmony since 1960s. The Anjuman has been organizing a weeklong unique historical festival every year i.e. 'Phool Walon ki Sair', in Delhi for more than 40 years. The festival is a symbol of solidarity amongst Hindus and Muslims. Considered as an emblem of communal harmony, the pankhas of Phool Walon Ki Sair, are presented to the President and Vice-President of India besides other dignitaries. The Anjuman involves troupes projecting diverse cultural representations from various states and with different religious background that participate in Phool Walon ki Sair, conveying the message of communal harmony.
The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous organisation set up by Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs, for promoting communal harmony and national integration. The award has been instituted with a view to demonstrating due appreciation and recognition of the efforts of individuals and organisations/ institutions for promotion of communal harmony and national integration in a sustained manner over a sufficiently long period of time.
In addition to a citation, the award carries a cash award of Rs. 5.00 lakh and Rs.2.00 lakh for the organisation and individual categories, respectively.