Harmony Foundation to confer Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards for Social Justice

by Shrutee K/DNS

Mumbai, 15th November 2016: The Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards for Social Justice, an initiative of Harmony Foundation will confer the extraordinary work undertaken by an individual or organization on 20th November 2016 at JW Marriott, Sahar.  

This year, the Harmony Foundation will be posthumously honouring Dhaka terror attack hero Faraaz Hossain in Mumbai. The award will be received by Faraaz’s parents who will be attending the award ceremony in his memory.

In July 1st this year, Faraaz had courageously stood up against terrorists and had refused to let his friends face the brunt of the terrorist by standing up for them. He was killed in the attack, but his courageous act of refusing to leave his Hindu friends behind earned him the title of a hero. There were more than 20 killed and 30 injured in this gruesome terrorist attack.

Faraaz is an obvious choice and the world needs heroes like him. Terrorists do not follow a religion. They are just murderers who kill. Faraaz’s act of selflessness and choosing to lay down his life for his friends is one of highest love. He displayed courage and bravado when faced with life and death. We consider it our most humble privilege to bestow this honour on Faraaz and to hand over this award to this young hero’s parents. 

The parents of Faraaz having accepted the invitation expressed appreciation "On behalf of my son Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain, it is an absolute honor and a privilege to have the opportunity to accept the Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice. Though in deep grief, we, Faraaz's family, cling onto the immense pride with which Faraaz has filled our hearts. He stood up for what was right by paying the highest cost any human can pay and we hope every day that his sacrifice does not go in vain.".

Also speaking at this moment, Dr. Abraham Mathai, President Harmony Foundation, said, “We are honoured to felicitate this award to Faraaz. He was a true hero. In his bravery and selflessness he has provided all of us with an inspiration for generations to come and a lesson in how to live our lives.”

Commenting on this occasion, Sr. M. Prema, Superior General, Missionaries of Charity said, “We congratulate Faraaz Ayaaz Hossain and all the other awardees. May we all strive to live god-centered lives so that we can contribute in bringing peace in our families, city, country and the world”.  

Since the theme of this year’s award ceremony is terrorism, the Harmony Foundation is also hosting an International Conference on ‘Combating Terrorism' with global leaders speaking on this grave threat to society

Several dignitaries including former Afghan President Hamid Karzai, Secretary General of SAARC Mr. Arjun Thapa, Dr.Farooq Abdullah and many others will be present to share a common dais and take a stand against terrorism. We have to send a message that violence and the murdering of innocents will not be tolerated. Youth who have no access to education are often susceptible to being influenced by propaganda and we wish to nip this in the bud. We want to send a message that a united India and a united world will not let terrorists win.

About Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards: The Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice which is currently in its 12th year was instituted in the year 2005 in the memory of Mother Teresa who was canonized a Saint by Pope Francis in the Vatican on September 4th 2016 and is the only one endorsed by Sr.Prema, the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata. The Harmony Foundation has, in the past, besides Medecines Sans Frontiers who were the latest recipient last year also conferred this prestigious International Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Dr. Sima Samar, former Malaysian prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and deputy speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox, besides several others with this award.

About Harmony Foundation: The Harmony Foundation was founded in October 2005 by Dr. Abraham Mathai to establish communal harmony between various communities, castes and work towards the benefit of all the communities without any discrimination as to religion, caste, creed, gender or region. The raison d’etre of this foundation was necessitated by the fact that we are presently living in a very turbulent period in the history of mankind wherein many wicked acts are being perpetrated under the guise of political, economic, religious reasons which have long term implications on the peaceful co-existence of human society. The society today needs peace, tolerance, equality and social justice to function cohesively and to encourage inclusiveness. Considering this practical situation and to make this ideal into a concrete and tangible reality the Harmony Foundation in association with prominent individuals such as Mahesh Bhatt, Admiral Vishnu Bhagwat, Tushar Gandhi hosts the Mother Teresa Memorial International Awards for Social Justice to felicitate selfless and intrepid Individuals who have channeled all of their energies and creativities towards furthering the aims of social justice as to encourage the society to imbibe these virtues of peace which are on integral part in the Constitution of India.

Apart from Faraaz, few other persons who contributed to the cause of Combating Terrorism will also be honoured on the day of the event.

The Mother Teresa Memorial International Award for Social Justice which is currently in its 12th year was instituted in the year 2005 in the memory of Mother Teresa who was canonized a Saint by Pope Francis in the Vatican on September 4th 2016 and is the only one endorsed by Sr.Prema, the Superior General of the Missionaries of Charity, Kolkata. The Harmony Foundation has, in the past, besides Medecines Sans Frontiers who were the latest recipient last year also conferred this prestigious International Award to His Holiness the Dalai Lama, Nobel Laureate Malala Yousafzai, Former Deputy Prime Minister of Afghanistan Dr. Sima Samar, former Malaysian prime minister Dr. Mahathir Mohammad and deputy speaker of the House of Lords Baroness Caroline Cox, besides several others with this award.