A noted writer and human rights activist Cedric Prakash will receive the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) respected journalism award for his courageous writing.
He will receive the annual ‘Louis Careno Award for Excellence in Journalism’ for his bold writings against communalism and fundamentalism gaining ground globally.
The award will be conferred on Father Prakash, a Gujarat-based Jesuit, during the 26th National Convention of Christian Journalists, organized by the ICPA, scheduled to be held in Mumbai on December 1, says an ICPA press release signed by ICPA president Ignatius Gonsalves and secretary Capuchin Father Suresh Mathew.
“His incisive, thought-provoking writings on various subjects have broken new grounds. His razor-sharp analysis of socio-cultural and political issues, especially relating to communalism and fundamentalism, has led to soul-searching debates in the civil society and the secular world,” the press note says.
According to the press statement, Father Prakesh “minces no words in raising his voice against irrational, biased and unfair policies and decisions of the governments of all times. He also writes on Church-related issues without fear or favour.”
The association says the human rights’ “writings have appeared in national dailies and several secular magazines, many of which have gone viral on social media. His no-nonsense approach and extensive quotes make his writings authentic and irrefutable. His fierce attack on rising fascist tendencies in India has hit where it really matters.”
Conferred annually on individuals or institutions, Louis Careno Award for Excellence in Journalism is a joint venture of the Mumbai Province of the Salesians of Don Bosco and the ICPA, a premier organization of Catholic journalists, dailies and periodicals in India founded in 1964 by Fr John Barrett, an American Jesuit belonging to the Patna Province.
When contacted, Fr Prakash said, “I am humbled and overwhelmed on being conferred” the award.
“For me, this award brings to greater focus the many issues which affect the Church and the Country today. Besides, it is a sign of hope that we all need to do much more now for the excluded and exploited everywhere,” he told Radio Veritas Asia.
According to him, the award will serve as “a motivation to be aware that the road ahead is long and hard - but full of promise thanks to our Lord who accompanies us.”
Fr Prakash was born on November 3, 1951. He was the founder-director of Prashant, an Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace.
From 2016 to 2018, he worked with Jesuit Refugee Service (JRS) in Beirut, Lebanon.
He has received serval awards for his work. He received Chevalier of the Legion of Honor, one of the highest French civilian awards, for his commitment to the defence and the promotion of human rights in India.
Other awards include the Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award for Humanitarian Work by the Indian Muslim Council, the USA in 2003, the Kabir Puraskar conferred on him by the President of India for his work in promoting Communal Communal Harmony and Peace in 1995.
He received the Minorities Rights Award by the National Commission for Minorities of the Government of India in 2006. He was one of the recipients of the Mother Teresa Awards for Social Justice in 2013.
The award is named after a Spanish Salesian, Fr José Luis Carreño (1905-1986), who worked as a missionary in India and the Philippines.
Radio Veritas Asia (RVA), a media platform of the Catholic Church, aims to share Christ. RVA started in 1969 as a continental Catholic radio station to serve Asian countries in their respective local language, thus earning the tag “the Voice of Asian Christianity.” Responding to the emerging context, RVA embraced media platforms to connect with the global Asian audience via its 21 language websites and various social media platforms.
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