It should be hoped the new award instituted in Nelson Mandela’s memory will undo wrongs that the Nobel has been accused of since the past many years
We shall be commemorating the birth anniversary of unquestionably one of the greatest figures of this century on July 18. Nelson Rolihlahla Mandela's indomitable spirit and later on total absence of rancour towards his oppressors will serve to inspire humankind for generations.
Commencing in 2015, a prize shall be awarded every five years to two individuals, a man and a woman. The United Nations feels that this step would ensure that stellar work by notable women would be highlighted in a more equitable manner than has been the case with other awards of human excellence that have subscribed broadly to the same principle.
The nominations shall be invited from a broad variety of sources, including the member states and the observer states of the United Nations; entities and inter-governmental organisations having received a standing invitation to participate as observers in the sessions and work of the General Assembly and the Economic and Social Council; institutions of higher education, as well as independent research centres and institutes; non-governmental organisations in consultative status with economic and social council; and laureates of the prize. Once nominations have been reviewed by the secretariat, a consolidated list is presented to a committee that selects the winners. The seven members of this committee are: The president of the General Assembly; a representative of the permanent mission of South Africa to the United Nations; and five representatives of the member states of the United Nations, one to be selected from each of the five regional groups.
The committee shall also select five eminent individuals, based on equitable geographical representation, who have made significant contributions to the service of humanity and to promoting the purposes and principles of the United Nations. Such eminent persons shall be honorary members of the committee and shall serve in an advisory capacity for a specific term during the selection process every five years.
I must admit to a gratifying feeling at the establishment of these awards, which hopefully would set a new benchmark for human excellence. For 115 years, the ultimate benchmark that is universally recognised is the Nobel Prize. I can notice a major overlap between the objectives of the Nobels, in particular those for peace and literature, and these awards.
My sincere hope is that the new award will address some of the major concerns that have been expressed over the last few decades. It is nobody's case that the Nobels have not fulfilled a purpose; they have done so exceedingly well. But a perusal of the history of the Nobels, would suggest that there have been some egregious lapses sporadically, and the frequency of these lapses has been increasing. Many experts have begun to harbour the view that Nobels have lived out their shelf life! There have been relentless controversies of late, in particular with the peace and literature awards. In an unprecedented gesture, the Nobel Foundation itself was constrained to issue a public apology that Mahatma Gandhi, despite his being nominated several times, was never conferred this honour. This is believed to have been because of covert and subtle political pressure from the British, who were then a world power.
I hope some nominations have been sent from India for the inaugural awards. One of the major reasons for the absence of Indian giants from the list of Nobel winners has been official slackness in nominating them for the honour. For example, Munshi Premchand, Sarat Chandra Chattopadhyay and Tarasankar Bandyopadhyay were not nominated even once.
Perhaps the apex body for humanities in India viz the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla, should constitute a committee to address this lapse. When I was in the governing society of the institute from 1993 to 1996, I had mooted a proposal to that effect, but it never took off for a variety of reasons. It would be unfortunate if we were to fall prey to this tendency vis-à-vis the UN Mandela Awards. India has many deserving names for the prestigious prize. Moreover, Mandela, who was inspired by Mahatma Gandhi, has a special place in our hearts.