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The Ahimsa 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.

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. It is bestowed by the directors of the Institute of Jainology, an international body based in the UK, representing the Jain faith.

Ahimsa Day

Ahimsa Day was established by the Institute of Jainology and has been celebrated annually in London since 2002. 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, who, amongst other great leaders, was inspired by the Jain philosophy of ahimsa. 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.

Ahimsa in Jainism is a well-established core principle even before the time of Mahavira, the 24th Thirthankara in the 5th century BC. 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.

Past winners

This list is incomplete; you can help by adding missing items. (October 2023)

• 2006 Nelson Mandela
• 2007 Dalai Lama
• 2008 Acharya Mahaprajna
• 2009 Padmanabh Jaini
• 2010 Nalini Balbir
• 2011 Nitin Mehta
• 2012 Scott Neeson
• 2013 Melanie Joy
• 2014 Ingrid Newkirk
• 2015 Charles, Prince of Wales
• 2015 Ann Cotton
• 2016 Rajendra Singh
• 2017 Ravinder Singh
• 2018 Shantilal Mutha
• 2020 Peter Tabichi
• 2021 Satish Kumar
• 2022 Kumarpal Desai
• 2023 Jasvant Modi
• 2024 Surendra Patawari

References

1. Banks, Marcus (1992). "Organizing Jainism in India and England". Oxford Studies in Social and Cultural Anthropology Series. 3. Oxford, UK: Clarendon Press.
2. "Jon Ashworth MP spoke at the Ahimsa Day celebrations in London". Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 31 January 2014.
3. "Directors of the Institute of Jainology".
4. Balbir, Nalini. "Ahimsa Day".
5. "Historic Day for Jain-Catholic Relations". The Catholic Church in England and Wales.
6. Balbir, Nalini. "Ahimsa Day". Archived from the original on 3 March 2015. Retrieved 2 January 2014.
7. Rao, M.S. "Messenger of Non-Violence and World Peace". Archived from the original on 5 October 2013.
8. "Jainism - Only One Way Out". Archived from the original on 22 October 2014. Retrieved 12 May 2014.
9. Anthony Pare, Lexington Books, 2000 "Gandhi, Freedom, and Self-Rule"
10. Goyala, Śrīrāma (1987). "A history of Indian Buddhism". Kusumanjali Prakashan. pp. 83–85.
11. Jaini, Padmanbh S (1998). The Jaina Path of Purification. Motilal Banarsidas. ISBN 8120815785.
12. "First IOJ Ahimsa Award given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela". Phayul.com. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2013.
13. "Awards and Honours 2000 – 2013". The Office of His Holiness the Dalai Lama. Archived from the original on 10 October 2011.
14. Report by Office of Tibet, London "First IOJ Ahimsa Award given to the Dalai Lama and Nelson Mandela" Archived 15 July 2014 at the Wayback Machine, Tuesday, 9 October 2007
15. "H.H. Acharya Mahapragya Honoured with IOJ Ahimsa Award 2008" (PDF). Page 6.
16. "JVB London Salutes Ahimsa Award 2008 Recipient HH Acharya".
17. "HH Acharya Mahapragya Honoured with IOJ Ahimsa Award 2008 in London". herenow4u.
18. "Prof. Padmanabh Jaini CV Berkeley, Fellowships, Awards, Honours" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 22 February 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
19. "About Padmanabh Jaini".
20. "Ahimsa Day celebrated in the Parliament". Asian Voice. 6–12 November 2010.
21. "The Annual Mahavir Jayanti Lecture". Prof. Balbir, Winner of the Ahimsa Award 2010.
22. "Nitin Mehta Receives Prestigious Ahimsa Award". Young Indian Vegetarians. Archived from the original on 30 November 2012.
23. "CCF Founder Scott Neeson Honoured with 2012 AHIMSA Award". Archived from the original on 26 October 2014. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
24. "Scott Neeson Founder at Cambodian Children's Fund, Honours and Awards".
25. "Animal Rights Activist Receives Non-Violence Award". Veg News.
26. "Carnism Awareness and Action Network, Dr Melanie Joy, Founder President". Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
27. "Incorporating Compassion for Farmed Animals". Forks over Knives.
28. Vegans, Jain. "Recent Jain Vegan News 2014". Jain Vegans: GroupSpaces. Jain Vegans UK. Archived from the original on 6 April 2018. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
29. Jainology, Institute of. "Institute of Jainology celebrates 13th Ahimsa Day at the House of Commons". Institute of Jainology.
30. "HRH the Prince of Wales – Welcome and Ahimsa Award Citation – Institute of Jainology".
31. "Ahimsa Day 2015 at the House of Commons – Institute of Jainology".
32. "Ahimsa Day 2016 – Institute of Jainology".
33. "Ahimsa Day 2017 – Institute of Jainology".
34. "16th Annual Ahimsa Day Celebration at the House of Commons – Institute of Jainology".
35. "Ahimsa Day 2020 Saturday, 24th October 2020 – Institute of Jainology".
36. "Ahimsa Day 2021 October, 2nd – Institute of Jainology".
37. "Ahimsa Day 2022 November, 16th – Institute of Jainology".
38. "Ahimsa Day 2023 at the House of Commons".
39. "Dr. Jasvant Modi Pledges $13 Million to Establish Jain Studies in Higher Education".
40. "Ahimsa Day 2024 at the House of Commons".
41. "Mr. Surendra Patawari, founder and chairman of Gemini Corporation".

External links

• Official website
• Ahimsa Day on Jainpedia (archived)

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