INDIAN AWARDS
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Academic Honors
SGI President Daisaku Ikeda has been the recipient of 401 academic honors from all over the world. Out of which, he has received 19 awards from India. The awards from India are as follows:
Birsa Agricultural University (BAU), a leading State University in Ranchi, Jharkhand, conferred Honorary Professorship upon SGI President Daisaku Ikeda to honour his outstanding contributions in the field of green revolution, global peace, and a new global humanism.
The Professorship was received on President Ikeda’s behalf by Prof. Yoshihisa Baba, Former President of Soka University of Japan in a ceremony held in BAU campus on 21st April 2022. Representing BSG at the conferral were BSG Chairperson Mr. Vishesh Gupta, Hony. Dy. Chairperson, Dr Akash Ouchi, and All India WD Chief, Ms. Rashi Ahuja.
Xavier University Bhubaneswar conferred honorary doctorate upon President Ikeda on 22 November 2019 in recognition of his profound contribution to Peace Building and Sustainability. At the ceremony in Bhubaneswar, Dr. Fr. Uvari referred to President Ikeda as a “Prince of Peace”. He went on to say, “What a privilege this day is for all of us gathered here to witness and celebrate the confluence of peacebuilders in a place that witnessed the conversion of a warrior to a messenger of peace. I can very proudly say that our journey has reached an important milestone today as we are conferring the honorary doctorate on Daisaku Ikeda in Sustainable Management.”
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Jaipur National University conferred honorary doctorate upon President Ikeda on 21 November 2019 in recognition of his profound contribution to Peace Building and Sustainability. At the ceremony in Delhi, Prof. H.N. Verma introduced the message of the Chancellor, Jaipur National University, Dr. Sandeep Bakshi, in which Dr. Bakshi talked about Ikeda’s path-breaking peace initiatives. “Ikeda’s vision encompasses borderless…
humanism that emphasizes free thinking and personal development based on respect for all forms of life.” He further added, “I am somebody who believes that until your mission becomes your obsession, your gifts will not become your glory. Ikeda’s presence is a reminder to all of us that real leaders never negotiate their standards,” he added. “It is a reminder of the potential to do such extraordinary work that the world can’t take its eyes off you.”
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On 23 September 2019, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda was conferred Honoris Causa by Manav Rachna University at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi. While presenting the award, Dr Prashant Bhalla, President, Manav Rachna Educational Institutions (MREI), expressed his joy on this momentous day of pride, honour and profound happiness and said “Dr Ikeda embodies a vision and mission that Manav Rachna humbly stands for and the Manav Rachna family extends its heartfelt gratitude to him for being an unmatched inspiration for its students. Dr. Ikeda’s mission of Peace and Sustainability has inspired many an endeavor at Manav Rachna University campus. He further said, “Dr. Ikeda’s life is one that is hard to emulate. But if one were to try, undertaking by every person in the world of even a fraction of initiatives that he did, will be the answer to world peace.”
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On 7th of December, 2017 on the occasion of its Founder’s Day, the prestigious St Stephens College of Delhi University conferred a Citation of Merit on SGI President Dr Daisaku Ikeda.
The citation praised President Ikeda’s sustained efforts to “improve the quality of human life” create “a better world,” “fostered and encouraged through education”, dialogue for peace, “respect for spiritual values” and most of all “as exemplified in his own life”. It also recognised President Ikeda’s efforts to build “a partnership between St Stephens College and Soka University and promote a better understanding of India in Japan”.
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On 22 January 2016, SGI President Daisaku Ikeda was conferred the Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) by Bhopal’s Barkatullah University. The conferral took place at the Central Tower of Soka University in Japan. The award was conferred by the Vice Chancellor of Barkatullah University, Prof. M.D. Tiwari, who had come to Japan especially for this occasion. The conferral of the honorary doctorate, comes in recognition of President Ikeda’s outstanding contribution to world peace and the development of education and culture. The degree of Doctor of Letters (Honoris Causa) was presented to Prof. Baba, President of Soka University, who received the award on behalf of President Ikeda and also read out President Ikeda’s acceptance speech.
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Jagran Lakecity University (JLU), Bhopal, conferred the Honorary Doctorate Humane Letters (Humanity and Arts) to Daisaku Ikeda, President, Soka Gakkai International (SGI). The award was conferred in recognition of President Ikeda’s untiring pursuit of peace and love for humanity and accepted on his behalf by Soka Gakkai President, Minoru Harada.The citation expressed appreciation for President Ikeda’s 2015 Peace Proposal and his emphasis on dialogue across differences for the sake of mutual co-existence as well as the self-directed transformation within the individual that leads to social transformation.
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The Madurai Institute of Social Sciences (MISS) awarded the title of Honorary Professor in Social Sciences to SGI President Daisaku Ikeda, founder of Soka University, “for his outstanding and valuable contribution for the cause of world peace”, on 18 April 2015. The conferral ceremony was held in conjunction with the 46th College Day celebrations and inauguration of the Centre for Thiruvalluvar Studies. Dr. Akash Ouchi, BSG’s honorary deputy chairperson, Ms. Bharati Ramachandran, BSG’s director and all-India deputy WD chief, and Mr. S. Seshadri, BSG’s general area chief of Tamil Nadu-Kerala General Area, accepted the award on behalf of SGI President Daisaku Ikeda from Dr. (Capt) D.V.P. Raja, founder and chairman of MISS.
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The S.N. Sinha Institute of Business Management in Ranchi, Jharkhand, conferred an Honorary Professorship on President Ikeda. The conferral took place as part of a Round Table Conference on Gandhian Philosophy and Global Leadership on 19 March 2014 at the Chinmaya Mission Auditorium on Lodhi Road, Delhi. Chairman of the institute, Prof. N.P. Singh, said at the conferral, “Dr Ikeda is a great social scientist and a great ideologist of global human peace.” In attendance were SGI representatives from Japan and representatives from Bharat Soka Gakkai (BSG).
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Viswa-Bharati University in Santiniketan, West Bengal, bestowed the honorary degree of Doctor of Literature (Deshikottama) on President Ikeda in a ceremony held on 29 May at the Soka International Friendship Centre in Sendagaya, Tokyo. University Vice Chancellor Sujit K. Basu, his wife Prof. Subhasree Basu, Prof. Somendranath Bandyopadhyay and Registrar Sunil Kumar Sarkar travelled from India to confer the accolade. They were accompanied by S.K. Mandal, Charge’ d’Affaires ad interim at the Indian Embassy in Tokyo. Also in attendance were Soka Gakkai divisional representatives and a delegation of visiting representatives from BSG.
The Symbiosis International Educational Centre (SIEC), Pune, conferred the first Doctor of Literature, honoris causa on Dr Daisaku Ikeda. The award was presented by Dr S.B. Majumdar, Chancellor of SIEC, in a ceremony held at the campus in Pune. Expressing his heartfelt appreciation for the honor, President Ikeda said in his acceptance speech: “The concept of symbiosis advocated by SIEC provides the world with the philosophical perspective and solution it so desperately seeks to resolve the strife, hatred and violence that haunt us.” The award was accepted by Dr Akash K. Ouchi, SGI Representative in India.
In recognition of his efforts to promote Indo-Japan friendship and spread the philosophy of humanism for the sake of peace, Vice Chancellor Bharti Mukherjee and Registrar Santosh Kumar Ghorai presented the honorary Doctorate of Literature on President Ikeda in a ceremony held at the Soka International Friendship Hall in Sendagaya, Tokyo. In her presentation speech Prof. Mukherjee referred to President Ikeda as a scholar, writer, teacher and organizer and asserted that the SGI leader is above all a visionary world citizen dedicated to the cause of peace, happiness, and upholding basic human values, human rights and dignity. She pointed out that Tagore and Mr Ikeda share similarities in their approaches to life, philosophy and humanism.
Bharathidasan University, Tiruchirappalli, Tamil Nadu, conferred an Honorary Doctorate of Literature on President Ikeda. The honor was presented by Vice Chancellor Muthiah Mariappan at the Makiguchi Memorial Hall, Tokyo. Dr Mariappan stated: “Dr Ikeda is a person worth the highest respect for his contribution to philosophy and humanitarian projects globally. With his interests ranging from philosophy, literature, music and photography, Dr Ikeda is a literary genius.” In his acceptance speech President Ikeda remarked, “The essence of humanistic education lies in fostering people so that they will have the courage to stand for justice.”
University Vice Chancellor Shruti Datt Sharma presented the honorary degree to President Ikeda during a ceremony held at the Soka Gakkai Nagano Training Centre in Nagano Prefecture. Chancellor of the University, Dr Suraj Bhan, in his congratulatory message, praised President Ikeda for his actions aimed at developing education, world peace, human rights, and a humanistic culture. Vice Chancellor Dr Sharma observed that President Ikeda is the author of many works infused with creative insight that clearly express the ideals of compassion, equality, freedom, and hope, emphasizing that they possess the potential to enrich the movement for human rights. Dr Sharma called the SGI President “a peerless champion for the people who has put all his energy into revitalizing Buddhism.”
President Ikeda was presented the honorary degree Doctor of Letters by Vice Chancellor of the university Prof. Sarvagya Singh Katiyar at the Seikyo Shimbun Building in Tokyo. In his presentation address, the professor noted that President Ikeda has established numerous academic, research and cultural institutions dedicated to promoting peace and fostering a spirit of tolerance and respect for diversity. He also lauded the SGI leader for making exemplary contributions to world peace and towards the spread of humanism.
VBS Purvanchal University awarded President Ikeda an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters in recognition of his efforts to promote global peace. The presentation was made on 20 January 2001 by Vice Chancellor Prem Chand Patanjali at a special ceremony held at the Central Tower of Soka University in Hachioji, Tokyo. Dr Patanjali shared that he first became acquainted with President Ikeda in 1992, when the SGI leader was named a Most Distinguished Fellow of the Delhi School of Nonviolence in New Delhi. The educator characterized President Ikeda as a ‘Modern Gandhi’, and also described him as a ‘young man of 70 years’ and as ‘topmost’.
At a function at Soka University in Tokyo, Bundelkhand University Vice Chancellor Ramesh Chandra presented an honorary degree of Doctor of Letters to President Ikeda. The delegation especially travelled to Tokyo to present the degree to President Ikeda. President Ikeda was also made Honorary Lifetime Professor from Bundelkhand University’s Ambedkar School of Social Sciences in recognition of his “outstanding contributions in opening society based on a humanistic philosophy, which firmly stands for equality and respect for life and peace in the world.” Rolls of honor were also presented to President Ikeda and Mrs Ikeda on the occasion.
At a special ceremony held at Jhansi, President Ikeda was conferred the degree of Doctor of Letters. The citation lauds President Ikeda for generating the hope to create “the kind of society in which the individual human being re-emerges as a focus of value and as an agent of creative transformation of society.” He was described as an “accomplished philosopher, a frontline social reformer, founder of educational and peace institutions, and a humanitarian responsible for east-west cultural fusion.” It further states that in awarding the honorary degree to the SGI leader, the university is “honoring a… educationist who has made ceaseless endeavours in pursuit of peace.”
This noted Sanskrit institution conferred the degree of ‘Mahamahopadhyaya’, Doctor of Literature, on President Ikeda in recognition of his “significant contribution to enrichment of the stock of human knowledge.” Vice Chancellor Mr Mukherjee and university officials presented the award to President Ikeda at a special ceremony held at Soka University.
Vice Chancellor Vrajendra Raj Mehta of the University of Delhi presented President Ikeda the Degree of Doctor of Letters, honoris causa. The conferral was held at the 30th Soka Gakkai Headquarters Leaders Meeting in Makiguchi Memorial Hall, Tokyo. In his conferral speech Vice Chancellor Mehta hailed President Ikeda as “one of the greatest leaders of the 20th century, a great human being, who has been able to concretize the philosophy of King Ashoka’s dharma and Mahatma Gandhi’s ahimsa as a strategy of conflict resolution in the modern world.” Citing the words of Machiavelli, Prof. Mehta said, “Some people take their luster from honors and institutions; others, greater still, add their luster to them. In accepting our honorary degree, Prof. Ikeda has added his luster to this honor, like he has to all those countless others he has received. This is one of the rare instances where our recipient honors us more than we honor him.”
Awards and Commendations
The Indian Federation of United Nations Associations (IFUNA) conferred its first Peace and International Understanding Award on President Ikeda at a ceremony held at Hotel Ashok in New Delhi on 23 October 2010. SGI Representative in India, Dr Akash K Ouchi, received the award on behalf of President Ikeda. The award was conferred on President Ikeda for his “innumerable contributions to global peace and unflagging support to the UN, apart from his efforts to foster a culture of peace through building ties of friendship and solidarity amidst countries across the globe based on respect and mutual dialogue.”
President Ikeda was conferred the award by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation in recognition of his efforts to promote Gandhian values outside India. The accolade was conferred in a ceremony held at the Yashwantrao Chavan Centre in Mumbai. Nobel Economics Prize laureate Prof. Amartya Sen delivered the citation and award trophy to Bharat Soka Gakkai Deputy Director-General Dr Akash Ouchi, who accepted the honor on President Ikeda’s behalf.
The “Oneness Forum” of the Times Foundation bestowed the award on President Ikeda at a special function in Vigyan Bhavan, New Delhi. Vice President Hiromasa Ikeda received the award on behalf of President Ikeda from Ms Indu Jain, Chairperson of the Times Foundation. Mr Hiromasa Ikeda read out Dr Daisaku Ikeda’s acceptance speech and said, “Given the greatness of the two giants whose names adorn this award, its recipient bears an enormous weight of expectation for he or she must be actively engaged in the worthiest of endeavors to establish lasting peace for humanity.” The purpose of the Oneness Forum is to unite global humanitarian organizations for collective actions to save and transform mankind by social, political and spiritual awakening.
The award was presented by the College President Sethu Bhaskaran and Chairman Sethu Kumanan at an alumni gathering of the Tokyo Soka Junior and Senior High School campus in Kodaira, Tokyo. President Ikeda was cited for his dedication to opening new horizons for the future by emphasising human rights and the sanctity of life. At the conferral ceremony, Dr Kumanan read a poem extolling President Ikeda’s untiring pursuit of peace and his spirit of tolerance and love for humanity. He also presented a memento to Mrs Ikeda at the ceremony to express appreciation on behalf of the school. Dr Kumanan was been inspired to make President Ikeda his mentor of life after reading his poem ‘Mother’. Wishing to dedicate something to his mentor, he founded the Soka Ikeda College for Arts and Science for Women, because of President Ikeda’s high praise for, and unstinting support of women.
President Ikeda was conferred the award in recognition of his wide-ranging efforts for education. This presentation was made in conjunction with the university’s graduation ceremony officiated by Uttar Pradesh Governor and University Chancellor Mr Vishnu Kant Shastri, in the presence of Vice Chancellor Prem Chand Patanjali and distinguished guests. Prof. Takagi of Soka University accepted the honor on behalf of SGI President Ikeda.
The Asiatic Society of India presented the award to President Ikeda at a special ceremony at the Nehru Memorial Museum and Library, New Delhi. President Ikeda is the first recipient of the award and was honored for his creative contribution to the development of human understanding towards peace.
The award was presented by Asiatic Society General Secretary Amalendu De and Vice President Manabend Bannerjee. The Asiatic Society has instituted the Tagore Peace Award to promote peace based on the lofty ideals of humanism and pacifism upheld by the esteemed Bengali poet and first Asian recipient of the Nobel Prize for Literature, Rabindranath Tagore. Accepting the citation and statuette, President Ikeda expressed his heartfelt resonance with the philosophy and spirit of Tagore and pledged to perpetuate the poet’s legacy and create bonds of friendship throughout the world and plant seeds of peace in the hearts of youth.
President Ikeda was conferred the Gandhi Peace Award by the Mahatma Gandhi People’s Welfare Trust on the occasion of the 125th birth anniversary of Mahatma Gandhi. Soka Gakkai Vice President Yoichi Kawada received the award on behalf of President Ikeda at a ceremony at Ramachandran Memorial Hall, Neyyattinkara, Kerala. Director of the Trust, Dr N Radhakrishnan said, “President Ikeda, whose activities for global peace arise from his humanistic convictions, has inherited the spirit of Gandhi and [Gandhi’s disciple] Dr Ramachandran in this age.” Managing Trustee Dr Mythili presented the Gandhi Peace Award, a copper plaque engraved with the Mahatma’s image.
In recognition of President Ikeda’s outstanding contribution to the promotion of India-Japan friendship and bilateral cultural exchange, the International Cultural Development Organisation conferred its Commemorative Shield on President Ikeda. Soka Gakkai Vice President Yoichi Kawada accepted the shield from the Union Minister of Planning and Program Implementation, Giridhar Gomango, on behalf of President Ikeda. The ceremony was held at the Rashtrapati Bhawan. ICDO Secretary General RS Varma said President Ikeda is a citizen of the world who has made remarkable efforts to promote exchange between youth in India and Japan.
Priyadarshini Academy, an Indian socio-cultural and educational organization, conferred this award on President Ikeda for his tireless contributions to world peace. President Ikeda is the first non-resident recipient of this award from the Indian academy. The award certificate and trophy was accepted by Soka Gakkai Vice President Yoichi Kawada on behalf of President Ikeda at a ceremony at Oberoi Towers, Mumbai. In his message, President Ikeda praised the vital contributions the academy has made in the fields of culture and education, and pledged to continue his efforts to promote international understanding and cultural exchange towards the creation of lasting world peace.
The International Cultural Development Organisation (ICDO) presented the award to President Ikeda at Soka International Friendship Centre in Tokyo. The award was conferred in recognition of his efforts to promote goodwill and closer relations with India.
President Ikeda received the Global Consciousness Award from the International Centre for Science, Culture and Consciousness at a ceremony at the Taj Palace Hotel, New Delhi. In his acceptance speech President Ikeda said that to create a new world we have to stop focusing on ideologies, political structures of ethnic groups, and return to the point of origination, that is, the human being. The award is conferred on individuals who have made significant contributions to the development of global awareness.
The International Academy of Indian Culture conferred the Prof. Raghuvira Award on President Ikeda at Nehru Memorial Auditorium. On behalf of President Ikeda, Mr Hiromasa Ikeda received the award from Dr Karan Singh and read out President Ikeda’s message. In 1963, Prof. Raghuvira – an internationally recognized authority on Sanskrit and the Vedas – founded the International Academy of Indian Culture, one of the nation’s most prestigious institutes. His son, Dr Lokesh Chandra, instituted the award in memory of his father. The award is conferred on individuals who have enhanced the values of the Lotus Sutra in the contemporary world.
At a special ceremony held in the Parliament Annex, New Delhi the International Cultural Development Organisation conferred the award on President Ikeda. On behalf of President Ikeda, Mr Hiromasa Ikeda received the award from Vice President SD Sharma and read out the message. The award is bestowed on persons who are recognized for their unwavering commitment to the promotion of culture and the enhancement of moral and ethical values.
In recognition of his untiring efforts to promote world peace in accordance with the universal principle of the dignity of life, the Anuvrat Global Organisation conferred the Anuvrat Award on President Ikeda. The Anuvrat Global Organisation was established in 1983 to promote world peace. The Anuvrat Award, first conferred in 1987, is bestowed on persons recognized internationally for their firm commitment to nonviolence and peace.
The National Centre for Development Education presented the G Ramachandran Award for International Understanding to President Ikeda. The award was conferred in recognition of President Ikeda’s endeavors to promote world peace, culture and education.
Literary Awards
Dr Daisaku Ikeda is a thinker, philosopher, photographer and the author of dialogues, essays, university lectures, children’s literature and books. He has composed more than a thousand poems alone, and has received 25 literary awards from around the world.
The five literary awards Dr Ikeda has received from India are as follows:
President Ikeda was conferred the World Peace Poet Award for his “outstanding achievements, particularly in espousing peace among peoples and nations” by the World Poetry Society Intercontinental. The award was jointly conferred by Justice S. Tamilvanan, Judge at Madras High Court and Dr A. Padmanabhan, former Governor of Mizoram and President of WPSI. At the awards ceremony, distinguished poets paid rich tributes to President Ikeda. In their compositions the poets focused on President Ikeda’s passion for world peace and courage to uphold humanistic values. WPSI President Dr A. Padmanaban praised President Ikeda as a “relentless fighter for culture, peace and harmony” whose poems “sparkle, awakening men and women.” Dr Padmanaban noted that President Ikeda “sees agony and gives relief.”
The title of World People’s Poet was conferred on President Ikeda by the World Poetry Society Intercontinental. A symposium titled ‘Poetry of World Peace, Harmony and Humanism’ was organised by WPSI, Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, the Institute of Oriental Philosophy and Bharat Soka Gakkai. The award was presented by Dr Krishna Srinivas and Dr A. Padmanaban of WPSI and accepted by Institute of Oriental Philosophy Director Yoichi Kawada.
The International Poets Academy (IPA) awarded President Ikeda the title of “Prophet of Peace” in a ceremony in Chennai. The new facility of the IPA, Dr Daisaku Ikeda International Poetry Centre for World Peace, was inaugurated on the same occasion.
In recognition of his meritorious contributions to the world of brotherhood and efforts to promote peace through poetry, the World Poetry Society conferred the World Poet Laureate Award on President Ikeda. Soka Gakkai Vice President Dr Kawada received the award from Society’s President Dr Krishna Srinivas. Dr Srinivas expressed understanding of Dr Ikeda’s efforts to promote peace through a humanistic life philosophy by stating, “a sound human revolution — carried within ourselves — alone will create an atmosphere of peace, founded on the strong bedrock of philosophy and belief in each individual.” In the acceptance speech read by Dr Yoichi Kawada, President Ikeda noted, “The cosmos within the self; the self as cosmos. More than anything, a poem is that which links and bridges these two infinite and eternal entities — cosmos and self.” President Ikeda also cited the poetic mind for its ability to connect the universe, society and humankind.
The International Poet’s Academy bestowed the title of “International Eminent Poet” and “Fellow membership” status on President Ikeda. The award is bestowed on individuals recognized for their distinguished achievements in the realm of poetry.
Recognitions
President Ikeda’s work, The Human Revolution, was named the most outstanding literary work of the 20th century by Writers Forum for Harmony, India. The award was presented by Dr A. Padmanaban of the WFFH on President Ikeda at a special ceremony held in Tokyo. The citation notes: “The Human Revolution vividly chronicles the heroic efforts of motivated and dedicated followers of Nichiren Daishonin towards worldwide kosen-rufu and the travails and persecutions they undergo. The work reveals amazing literary qualities that make it a work of all times.” It further describes the author as “a literary genius of exceptional ability to portray social changes most poignantly and with epic grandeur and beauty”.
President Ikeda was appointed honorary advisor by the noted Indian institution in recognition of his efforts to bridge the gap between science and spirituality through humanistic dialogue.
At a special ceremony in Chennai coinciding with the 39th anniversary of President Ikeda’s first visit to India in 1961, the IPA presented this special title on SGI President Ikeda for his unstinting efforts to promote world peace through poetry. The certificate and accompanying plaque were accepted by BSG Deputy Chief Secretary Akash Ouchi on behalf of SGI President Ikeda.
On 13 November 1999 Sethu Bhaskara Matriculation Higher Secondary School of Chennai, bestowed upon President Ikeda a Plaque of Special Commendation. The presentation was made at the Soka Junior and Senior High Schools in Kodaira, Tokyo. On 13 August 2001 President and Mrs Ikeda were made the honorary founder and honorary principal of the Soka Ikeda College of Arts and Science for Women, respectively. Sethu Bhaskara School appointed President and Mrs Ikeda as honorary founder and principal on 16 September 2001.
The International Academy of lndian Culture bestowed the title Most Distinguished Honorary Member on President Ikeda in a ceremony held on 29 November at the Seikyo Shimbun building in Shinanomachi in Tokyo. The honor was presented by Dr Lokesh Chandra, director of the academy. In his greetings, he praised President Ikeda for his actions in bringing peace and harmony to humankind based on the teachings of the Lotus Sutra and for advocating “soft power”.
President Ikeda was honored as “Patron” of the Bishambhar Nath Pande Peace Foundation at a function held at the Constitution Club in New Delhi. The foundation is dedicated to promoting the ideals of nonviolence upheld by the late Dr Pande, a direct disciple of Mahatma Gandhi. Also named as patrons on this occasion were Vice President of India Krishan Kant and former president Shankar Dayal Sharma. President Ikeda sent a message in which he said that Dr Pande’s existence itself was symbol of nonviolence, harmony and peace. And he expressed his sincere wish that the organization would foster many youth to carry on the indomitable spirit of Dr Pande.
President Ikeda was bestowed the Most Distinguished Fellowship status by the Delhi School of Nonviolence at a special award ceremony in New Delhi. The school, established in 1966, is a non-governmental organization that seeks to promote Gandhian philosophy and world peace. The fellowship is awarded to leaders of world stature who have made significant contributions to the integration of science and spirituality.