Binayak Sen was awarded the Gandhi Foundation Peace Award for his advocacy of non-violent engagement and human rights work on behalf of rural poor and Naxalites in India. The award highlights how the Indian government views Sen in a negative light for peacefully voicing dissent against anti-Naxalite operations. While previously blocking Sen from accepting other awards, allowing him to receive this honor shows a sign of hope but also serves as a slap to the government for suppressing alternative viewpoints instead of reevaluating its policies. The award gives Sen, and others, a voice to condemn inhumane government actions.

1. Why Binayak Sen’s Peace Award Is
A Slap On The Face Of The
Government?
- Gauri Jagatap

2. The Prisoner of Conscience
• On the 14th of June, Binayak Sen was felicitated with the
Gandhi Foundation Peace Award at the House of
Lords, London, along with Bulu Imam.
• Binayak Sen has been fighting a longstanding battle against
the Government of India (GOI) for the Human Rights violation
of anti-Naxalite operations while advocating peaceful non-
violent political engagement.
• Binayak Sen, receiver of several prestigious awards from
abroad for his work towards medical treatment of the rural
poor as well as activism for human rights of the Naxalites
alike, remains a prisoner indeed, in the eyes of the
Government.

3. A true Gandhian!
• While barred from attending the ‘Jonathan Mann
Award’ function, where he was to be presented with an
award for Global Health & Human Rights, the government
allowed Dr. Sen to travel all the way to London to collect this
honor.
• This Gandhian has been in constant media and government
scrutiny for following his very morals.
• A felicitation by the Gandhi Foundation only highlights and
directs our attention to the fact that the government sees the
pediatrician in an non-friendly light, who tried to voice his
opinion and went about it peacefully.

4. His rightful award
• In allowing Binayak Sen to receive his award and essentially
speak freely after trying to suppress his voice for as long as 5
years, the government seems to be showing some sign of
hope.
• In the rightful words of his wife, who went to collect his
Jonathan Mann Award, “It is impossible to seek a purely law
and order or vigilante solution to what are basically the
problems of non-inclusive growth…We are firmly committed to
Peace: but to a Peace animated by justice and equity and based
on the values of life and liberty.”

5. A voice to the innocents
• As Dr. Sen expressed his prospect of trying to stay out of
jail, his statement serves as a slap to the government, which
instead of focusing on re-evaluating its policies, is keen on
making Dr. Sen a scapegoat.
• In suppressing Sen’s voice, the government has led to an
uproar of sorts, as thousands have begun to condemn its
actions.
• And in giving him a voice, it has given a voice for innocent
civilians as well who have continued to tarnish under
rebellious policies of the government.

6. • Read the detailed report on Why Binayak Sen’s Peace Award
Is A Slap On The Face Of The Government? On
http://bit.ly/LKHHZB