Forum Associate Cedric Prakash, S.J.

Named Knight of the French Legion of Honor
(Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur)

In a rare presentation by the government of France, Fr. Cedric Prakash, S.J., Director of the Prashant Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace in Ahmedabad, India, was awarded the country's highest civilian decoration on September 18, 2006. The President of the French Republic, Mr. Jacques Chirac, conferred the award of "Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur" (Knight of the Legion of Honor) to Fr. Prakash, acknowledging his lifetime commitment to the defense and the promotion of human rights in India. This award was initiated by the first Consul of the French Republic in 1802 and is given only to an elite group of people (mainly French Nationals and very exceptionally to foreigners) who distinguish themselves through military or civilian valor.

Fr. Prakash, along with His Holiness the Dalai Lama, the Maharaja of Jodhpur and many others are featured in the Global Ethics and Religion Forum’s documentary film:

Patterns for Peace: India as a Model for Peace in a Multi-Religious Society
 

The first in a series of films being produced by the Forum for world-wide broadcast, this film will bring international attention to India's heritage of peace and nonviolence and highlight the strategies for peaceful coexistence in an extremely diverse society. Fr. Prakash played a key role in this film, and on a recent lecture tour in the USA in September and October of 2005 he addressed friends and supporters of the Forum in addition to speaking on religious freedom and human rights at Chapman University, California Lutheran University, Loyola Marymount University and Marquette University, as well as the U.S. Institute of Peace, Catholic Relief Services, Human Rights Watch and Amnesty International.

Fr. Prakash has been an extraordinary advocate for the cause of human rights in Gujarat and in other parts of India, and in the wake of the Gujarat riots of 2002, he testified before the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom in Washington, D.C. In the past he has worked with Mother Theresa, and today he is playing a key role in working with Hindus and Muslims to restore communal harmony in the city of Ahmedabad and beyond.

The Prashant Centre is involved in a range of programs and activities including drought relief in various parts of India and providing shelter for families whose homes were destroyed as a result of flooding, as well as promoting minority rights, religious freedom and inter-religious dialogue. In addition to his position as Director of Prashant, Fr. Prakash is the Secretary of the Commission for Social Communications of the Western Region Catholic Bishops Council.

Among the other prestigious awards received by Fr. Prakash are the Kabir Puraskar, which the President of India conferred to him in 1995 for his work in the promotion of communal harmony and peace. In 1996 he was awarded the Anubhai Chimanlal Nagarika Pursakar by the Mayor of Ahmedabad for his contribution to the city, and in 2003 the Indian Muslim Council, USA, presented him with the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Humanitarian Work.

Meeting with Board of Directors Members.  Back: James Martin, Robin Wang, Philip Rossi, S.J., Nathan Tierney,
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Cedric Prakash S.J.   Front: Forum Assistant with Directors Nancy Martin and Joseph  Runzo 

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