M. A. THOMAS NATIONAL HUMAN RIGHTS AWARD WINNERS.
The following is a list of winners of the M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award:
1994. People's Union for Civil Liberties, New Delhi.
1995. Mr. Balraj Puri, Jammu, and Dr. C.T .Kurien, Chennai (shared).
1996. Ms. Malladi Subbamma, Hyderabad.
1997. Mr. Ravi Nair, New Delhi.
1998. Mr. Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer, Kochi.
1999. Ms. Medha Patkar, Mumbai.
2000. Mr. Justice V. M. Tarkunde, New Delhi.
2001. Dr. H. Sudarshan, Karnataka.
2002. Mr. Harsh Mander
2003 No award
2004. Ms. Teesta Setalvad, Mumbai.
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Harsh Mander chosen for M. A. Thomas Human Rights Award 2002
Mr. Harsh Mander, who quit the Indian Administrative Service to protest against the Gujarat government's response to the communal holocaust of 2002 and take up the task of rehabilitation of the victims, has been chosen for the M. A. Thomas National Human Rights Award for 2002.
The award presentation ceremony is slated for August 3, 2002.
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Dr. H. Sudarshan receives M. A. Thomas Human Rights Award 2001
Dr. H. Sudarshan, who has been working among the tribal communities on the hills of Karnataka is the recipient of the Dr. M. A. Thomas National Award for 2001.
The award was presented to him at a ceremony held in Bangalore on August 10, 2001, the birth anniversary of Dr. Thomas.
V. M. Tarkunde receives M. A. Thomas Human Rights Award 2000
The seventh M.A. Thomas National Human Rights Award was presented to Mr. Justice V. M. Tarkunde, former judge of Bombay High Court, at a function held at the Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Bangalore, on August 11, 2000.
The proceedings began with a welcome address by Mr. V.I. Itty, General Secretary, Vigil India Movement. Mr. K. Pratap Reddy, President, was in the chair. Dr. M.J. Joseph, Trustee, read the citation, which inter alia said: "Tarkunde and Civil liberties/Human Rights have now become synonymous. This young man of 91 years has emerged as India’s most towering Human Rights Activist".
The Defence Minister, Mr. George Fernandes, presented the award to Mr. Justice Tarkunde.
Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Fernandes recalled that Mr. Justice Tarkunde had boldly launched a campaign against Indira Gandhi's Emergency regime.
Mr. Justice V.R. Krishna Iyer spoke felicitating Mr. Justice Tarkunde.
Mr. Justice Tarkunde said he would present the award to those who worked for the betterment of the downtrodden and ensured that the poor got at least one square meal a day. "In a true democracy, idealism consists of identifying those who are poor and it is for these people that we must work", he said.
Mr. Saji Thomas, Programme Coordinator, proposed a vote of thanks
Mr. Justice Tarkunde was chosen for the M. A. Thomas Nationl Human Rights Award 2000 by a jury consisting of Mr. Justice P. P. Bopanna, a former judge of the Karnataka High Court, Mr. Kuldip Nayar, MP and journalist, and Dr. K. C. Abraham, a Trustee of Vigil India Movement. :
