Gita Press: Awarded by the Modi Government amidst controversy
Gandhi Peace Prize 2021 awarded for social transformation through Gandhian methods.
The Ministry of Culture announced that the prestigious Gandhi Peace Prize for 2021 will be conferred upon Gita Press, Gorakhpur, in recognition of its outstanding contribution towards social, economic, and political transformation through non-violent and other Gandhian methods. The decision was made by a jury headed by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Established in 1923, Gita Press is one of the world’s largest publishers, renowned for its dedication to promoting the principles of Sanatana Dharma.
The Gandhi Peace Prize, an annual award instituted by the Government of India in 1995 to honor Mahatma Gandhi’s ideals, is open to individuals regardless of nationality, race, language, caste, creed, or gender. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 1 crore, along with a citation, a plaque, and an exquisite traditional handicraft/handloom item. Previous recipients of the award include prestigious organizations such as ISRO, Ramakrishna Mission, Grameen Bank of Bangladesh, Vivekananda Kendra, Kanyakumari, Akshaya Patra, Bengaluru, Ekal Abhiyan Trust, India, and Sulabh International, New Delhi.
Over the years, the Gandhi Peace Prize has been bestowed upon luminaries such as Nelson Mandela, former president of South Africa, and Julius Nyerere, former president of Tanzania. Recent awardees include Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said of Oman (2019) and Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujibur Rahman of Bangladesh (2020).
Gita Press, located in Gorakhpur city of Uttar Pradesh, has played a monumental role in publishing and disseminating Hindu religious texts. It has published a staggering 41.7 crore books in 14 languages, including 16.21 crore copies of the revered Shrimad Bhagavad Gita. Remarkably, Gita Press has never relied on advertisements for revenue generation, highlighting its commitment to the dissemination of knowledge.
However, the award announcement sparked controversy, with Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh criticizing the decision, comparing it to awarding Hindutva ideologue VD Savarkar and Mahatma Gandhi’s killer Nathuram Godse. Ramesh referred to a 2015 book by journalist Akshaya Mukul, which sheds light on the alleged “stormy relations” between Gita Press and Mahatma Gandhi.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma expressed his disagreement with the Congress, accusing the party of waging a war against India’s civilizational values and rich legacy. He emphasized the need for India’s people to resist such aggression and uphold their cultural values.
