A LIFE DEDICATED TO PEACE & SPIRITUALITY

studios along with the live streaming of such sessions. In particular, the sessions on the Quran are a big hit. Now CPS has become a globally recognized organization. In 2002, Maulana Wahiduddin Khan was awarded the Demiurgus Peace International Award by the Nuclear Disarmament Forum AG. The award, under the patronage of the former Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, was given to acknowledge his outstanding achievements in strengthening peace among nations and for his efforts to develop a complete ideology of peace and present Islamic teachings in the style and language of the present day. The award was presented at a ceremony by Dr Alexander Bessmertnykh, chairman of the World Council of Former Foreign Ministers (WCFFM). He has also been awarded the title of Ambassador of Peace by the International Federation for World Peace, Korea. Some of the other awards presented to him are the Padma Bhushan (2000), the Rajiv Gandhi National Sadbhavna Award (2009), the National Integration Award, the Communal Harmony Award, the Diwaliben Mohan Lal Mehta Award, the National Amity Award, the Dilli Gaurav Award, the FIE Foundation Award, the Urdu Academy Award, the Aruna Asaf Ali Sadbhavna Award and the National Citizen’s Award, presented by Mother Teresa. He was conferred with the Sayyidina Imam Al Hassan Ibn Ali Peace Award (2015) in Abu Dhabi and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) at Chicago in 2015. Acknowledging his contribution for a peaceful India, spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar commented: Maulana Wahiduddin Khan is a very renowned spiritual leader of our country. I call him our Bhishma Pitamaha, the eldest of our spiritual wealth of this country. His way of peace gives a new understanding about Islam and what Islam says. (…) tenets of peace, I think that is most needed today where there (are) so much fractions, fanaticism and small mindedness. Wahiduddin Khan’s philosophy and his interpretation are most valuable. Harmony and diversity are his main sutras. I think it is a very valuable mission that he is on in bringing peace to people. Maulana Wahiduddin Khan envisions India as the Spiritual Superpower of the world. Former President of India Dr A P J Abdul Kalam paid tribute to his efforts towards this end. He said: I have read many of his books. I see him as an embodiment of real spiritual engagement. I have got great respect for him. o