UpdateBot at 11:57, 9 February 2022

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{{short description|Annual award}}
{{Jainism}}
{{use dmy dates|date=September 2021}}

The '''Ahimsa Award''' ( '''Mahaveer Mahatma Award''' ) is an annual award given by the Institute of Jainology in recognition of individuals who embody and promote the principles of [[Ahimsa]] ([[nonviolence]]). It was established in 2006 and has since been awarded at the annual "Ahimsa Day" event, on 2 October, the birth anniversary of [[Mahatma Gandhi]].<ref>{{cite journal|last=Banks|first=Marcus|title=Organizing Jainism in India and England|journal=Oxford Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology Series|date=1992|volume=3|publisher=Clarendon Press|location=Oxford, UK}}</ref>

The event is normally held at the [[Palace of Westminster]]—[[House of Commons of the United Kingdom]], in London, where various members of Parliament are invited to speak.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jon Ashworth MP spoke at the Ahimsa Day celebrations in London|url=http://www.jonashworth.org/jon_ashworth_news_10_12.html|access-date=2014-01-31|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714144120/http://www.jonashworth.org/jon_ashworth_news_10_12.html|archive-date=2014-07-14|url-status=dead}}</ref> It is bestowed by the directors of the Institute of Jainology, an international body based in the UK, representing the [[Jainism|Jain]] faith.<ref>{{cite web|title=Directors of the Institute of Jainology|url=http://www.jainology.org/contact-us/}}</ref>

==Ahimsa Day==
Ahimsa Day was established by the Institute of Jainology<ref>{{cite web|last=Balbir|first=Nalini|title=Ahimsa Day|url=http://jainpedia.org/themes/practices/festivals/ahimsa-day.html}}</ref> and has been celebrated annually<ref>{{cite web|title=Historic Day for Jain-Catholic Relations|url=http://www.catholic-ew.org.uk/Home/News/2012/April-June/Historic-Day-for-Jain-Catholic-Relations|publisher=The Catholic Church in England and Wales}}</ref> in London since 2002.<ref>{{cite web|last=Balbir|first=Nalini|title=Ahimsa Day|url=http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/practices/festivals/ahimsa-day.html|access-date=2014-01-02|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150303210655/http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/practices/festivals/ahimsa-day.html|archive-date=2015-03-03|url-status=dead}}</ref> It was created to bring awareness of Ahimsa (nonviolence) as it applies in [[Jainism]]. The event takes place in early October to commemorate the birth anniversary of [[Mahatma Gandhi]],<ref>{{cite web|last=Rao |first=M.S. |title=Messenger of Non-Violence and World Peace |url=http://www.unpost.org/gandhi-messenger-non-violence-world-peace/ |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20131005023547/http://www.unpost.org/gandhi-messenger-non-violence-world-peace/ |archivedate=2013-10-05 }}</ref> who, amongst other great leaders, was inspired by the Jain philosophy of ahimsa.<ref>{{cite web|title=Jainism - Only One Way Out|url=http://www.india-religion.net/jainism.html|access-date=2014-05-12|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141022073122/http://www.india-religion.net/jainism.html|archive-date=2014-10-22|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2007, the United Nations declared that the [[International Day of Non-Violence]] would take place on 2 October.

==History and background==
Ahimsa, (the principle of nonviolence), is a concept adopted by most Indic religious traditions, primarily [[Buddhist]], [[Hindu]], and [[Jain]]. The political and social application of ahimsa was given universal recognition by Mahatma Gandhi, who fought the campaign for the independence of India with the doctrine of ahimsa as the cornerstone.<ref>Anthony Pare, Lexington Books, 2000 "Gandhi, Freedom, and Self-Rule"</ref>

[[Ahimsa in Jainism]] is a well-established core principle even before the time of [[Mahavira]], the 24th [[Thirthankara]] in the 5th century BC.<ref>Goyala, Śrīrāma (1987). "A history of Indian Buddhism". Kusumanjali Prakashan. pp. 83–85.</ref> The principle of Ahimsa in Jainism states that one should do no harm by word, thought, or deed, nor ask others to, and nor condone that which is done.<ref>{{cite book|last=Jaini|first=Padmanbh S|title=The Jaina Path of Purification|year=1998|publisher=Motilal Banarsidas|isbn=8120815785}}</ref>

==Past winners==
* 2006 [[Nelson Mandela]]<ref>{{cite web|title=First IOJ Ahimsa Award given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela|url=http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=18158|publisher=Phayul.com|access-date=16 March 2013|archive-date=14 July 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714145150/http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=18158|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* 2007 [[Dalai Lama]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Awards and Honours 2000 - 2013 |url=http://www.dalailama.com/biography/awards-honors |publisher=The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20111010231826/http://www.dalailama.com/biography/awards-honors |archivedate=2011-10-10 }}</ref><ref>Report by Office of Tibet, London [http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=18158&t=1 "First IOJ Ahimsa Award given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela"] {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715103200/http://www.phayul.com/news/article.aspx?id=18158&t=1 |date=July 15, 2014 }}, Tuesday, October 09, 2007</ref>
* 2008 [[Acharya Mahapragyaji]]<ref>{{cite web|title=H.H. Acharya Mahapragya Honoured with IOJ Ahimsa Award 2008|url=http://www.jainvishwabharati.org/newsletter/JVB%20International%20Reflections-14.pdf|work=Page 6}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=JVB London Salutes Ahimsa Award 2008 Recipient HH Acharya}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=HH Acharya Mahapragya Honoured with IOJ Ahimsa Award 2008 in London|url=http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=66271|publisher=herenow4u}}</ref>
* 2009 [[Padmanabh Jaini]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Prof. Padmanabh Jaini CV Berkeley, Fellowships, Awards, Honours|url=http://sseas.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/cv_jaini.pdf|access-date=2014-05-15|archive-date=2017-02-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170222201600/http://sseas.berkeley.edu/sites/default/files/faculty/cv_jaini.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=About Padmanabh Jaini|url=http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=62442&tt_address_pi1%5Buid%5D=62&cHash=10b37d3eab}}</ref>
* 2010 [[Nalini Balbir]]<ref name="Page 13">{{cite news|title=Ahimsa Day celebrated in the Parliament|url=http://issuu.com/abpl/docs/av_6nov2010/13|newspaper=Asian Voice|date=6–12 November 2010}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=The Annual Mahavir Jayanti Lecture|url=http://www.herenow4u.net/index.php?id=91201|work=Prof. Balbir, Winner of the Ahimsa Award 2010}}</ref>
* 2011 Nitin Mehta<ref>{{cite web|title=Nitin Mehta Receives Prestigious Ahimsa Award |url=http://www.youngindianvegetarians.co.uk/news.htm |publisher=Young Indian Vegetarians |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20121130202324/http://www.youngindianvegetarians.co.uk/news.htm |archivedate=2012-11-30 }}</ref>
* 2012 [[Scott Neeson]]<ref>{{cite web|title=CCF Founder Scott Neeson Honoured with 2012 AHIMSA Award|url=https://www.ccf-australia.org/recent-news-list/252-ccf-founder-scott-neeson-honoured-with-2012-ahimsa-award.html|access-date=2014-05-15|archive-date=2014-10-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141026153131/https://www.ccf-australia.org/recent-news-list/252-ccf-founder-scott-neeson-honoured-with-2012-ahimsa-award.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Scott Neeson Founder at Cambodian Children's Fund, Honours and Awards|url=https://www.linkedin.com/pub/scott-neeson/13/741/30a}}</ref>
* 2013 [[Melanie Joy]]<ref>{{cite web|title=Animal Rights Activist Receives Non-Violence Award|url=http://vegnews.com/articles/page.do?pageId=6292&catId=8|publisher=Veg News}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Carnism Awareness and Action Network, Dr Melanie Joy, Founder President|url=http://www.carnism.org/2012-05-15-16-41-47/27-bios/37-about-dr-melanie-joy|access-date=2014-05-15|archive-date=2018-04-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406225910/http://www.carnism.org/2012-05-15-16-41-47/27-bios/37-about-dr-melanie-joy|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Incorporating Compassion for Farmed Animals|url=http://www.forksoverknives.com/author/melaniejoy/|publisher=Forks over Knives}}</ref>
* 2014 [[Ingrid Newkirk]]<ref>{{cite web|last1=Vegans|first1=Jain|title=Recent Jain Vegan News 2014|url=http://groupspaces.com/JainVegans/emails/487971|website=Jain Vegans: GroupSpaces|publisher=Jain Vegans UK|access-date=31 May 2015|archive-date=6 April 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180406230011/http://groupspaces.com/JainVegans/emails/487971|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Jainology|first1=Institute of|title=Institute of Jainology celebrates 13th Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons|url=http://www.jainology.org/2690/ahimsa-day-celebration-at-the-house-of-commons/|website=Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2015 [[Charles, Prince of Wales]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jainology.org/hrh-the-prince-of-wales-welcome-and-ahimsa-award-citation/|title = HRH the Prince of Wales – Welcome and Ahimsa Award Citation – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2015 [[Ann Cotton]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jainology.org/ahimsa-day-2015-house-of-commons/|title = Ahimsa Day 2015 at the House of Commons – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2016 [[Rajendra Singh]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jainology.org/ahimsa-day-2016/|title = Ahimsa Day 2016 – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2017 Ravinder Singh<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jainology.org/ahimsa-day-2017/|title = Ahimsa Day 2017 – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2018 Shantilal Mutha<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.jainology.org/16th-annual-ahimsa-day-celebration/|title=16th Annual Ahimsa Day Celebration at the House of Commons – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>
* 2020 [[Peter Tabichi]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.jainology.org/ahimsaday2020/|title = Ahimsa Day 2020 Saturday, 24th October 2020 – Institute of Jainology}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist|2}}

==External links==
* [http://www.jainology.org Institute of Jainology official website]
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20150303210655/http://www.jainpedia.org/themes/practices/festivals/ahimsa-day.html Encyclopedia on Jainism]

{{Jainism topics}}
[[Category:Jainism and society]]
[[Category:Awards established in 2006]]
[[Category:Nonviolence]]
[[Category:Humanitarian and service awards]]

Ahimsa Award - Revision history

UpdateBot at 11:57, 9 February 2022