Cedric Prakash: Difference between revisions

|Mother Teresa International Award (2013)

|Fr. Louis Careno Award (2021)}}

Prakash was born on 3 November 1951, to Cynthia Lobo and Conrad Lobo in [[Mumbai|Mumbai, India]]. He was the youngest of four children. His father was an Engineer in a sister company of [[Siemens]] and his mother was a teacher at St. Joseph's Convent, Umerkhadi, [[Mumbai]]. Prakash received his early education from Antonio D'souza High School (ANZA), Mumbai, and completed his [[Bachelor of Arts|B.A. (Hons.)]] from [[St. Xavier's College, Mumbai]] in 1972.

 

==Activism and Organizational Leadership==

Fr. Prakash founded ‘Prashant’, an Ahmedabad-based Jesuit Centre for Human Rights, Justice and Peace and was the Director of this Centre till January 2016. For three years (2016-2018), Fr. Prakash was based in [[Beirut|Beirut, Lebanon]] in the Regional Office of the [[Jesuit Refugee Service]] (Middle East and North Africa Region) as the Regional Advocacy and Communications Officer/Advisor, working with refugees and [[Internally displaced person|Internally Displaced Persons]] (IDPs) in [[Syria]], [[Jordan]], [[Iraq]], and [[Lebanon]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=Relentless Modi critic, Fr Cedric moves to Beirut &#124; Ahmedabad News - Times of India|url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/ahmedabad/relentless-modi-critic-fr-cedric-moves-to-beirut/articleshow/50648297.cms|website=The Times of India}}</ref> In collaboration with St Joseph's University, [[Beirut]] he headed and in September 2018 completed a path-breaking research study, ‘Journeying Together’, on the situation of the Syrian refugees in Lebanon.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2018-10-01|title=Journeying Together: Syrian refugees living in Lebanon|url=https://mattersindia.com/2018/10/journeying-together-syrian-refugees-living-in-lebanon/|access-date=2021-12-08|website=Matters India|language=en-US}}</ref>

==Awards==

In 1996, Fr. Prakash was awarded The Anubhai Chimanlal Nagarika Puraskar by the Mayor of Ahmedabad for his contribution to the city of [[Ahmedabad|Ahmedabad, India]].<ref name=":0" />  He was also conferred the Kabir Puraskar by the [[President of India]] for his work in the promotion of Communal Harmony and Peace in 1995 .In 2006, he was named [[Chevalier of the Legion of Honor]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/ahmedabad/father-cedric-to-work-for-syrian-refugees-to-move-to-beirut/|title=Father Cedric to work for Syrian refugees, to move to Beirut|date=21 January 2016}}</ref> one of the highest French civilian awards, acknowledging his commitment to the defense and the promotion of human rights in India.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/02/stories/2006060205571300.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930223239/http://www.hindu.com/2006/06/02/stories/2006060205571300.htm|url-status=dead|archive-date=2007-09-30|title =Top French honour for Fr. Cedric Prakash|date=2006-06-02|work=The Hindu|access-date=2007-03-01}}</ref>

Fr. Prakash has also been awarded the [[Rafi Ahmed Kidwai Award]] presented for Humanitarian Work by the [[Indian American Muslim Council|Indian Muslim Council]], USA in 2003. He also received the Fr. Parmananda Divarkar Award for Communication for Peace in January 2004 for promoting dialogue for peace and inter-community harmony.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2006-05-19|title=Gujarat priest wins top French award|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india/gujarat-priest-wins-top-french-award/story-4lILT9MHo7HuU5YF4hJAuN.html|access-date=2021-12-09|website=Hindustan Times|language=en}}</ref> In 2006, he received the Minorities Rights Award by the [[National Commission for Minorities]] of the [[Government of India]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.secularindia.com/ngo/2006/10/14Minorities.htm|title=Minorities Rights Award 2006 for Fr. Cedric Prakash|author=Simon Parmar|publisher=SecularIndia.com good man|access-date=2007-03-19|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070320192846/http://www.secularindia.com/ngo/2006/10/14Minorities.htm|archive-date=20 March 2007|url-status=dead|df=dmy}}</ref>  

The [[Marquette University]] in Wisconsin, USA honored him as the Wade Chair Scholar for the academic year 2009 – 2010.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Gratitude is an Attitude: Teachings from Cedric Prakash, S.J., a Human Rights Defender from India – Marquette University Law School Faculty Blog|url=https://law.marquette.edu/facultyblog/2009/11/gratitude-is-an-attitude-teachings-from-cedric-prakash-s-j-a-human-rights-defender-from-india/|access-date=2021-12-08|language=en-US}}</ref> Fr. Prakash was one of the recipients of [[Mother Teresa Awards]] for Social Justice in 2013.<ref>{{cite web|title=Harmony Foundation to host Mother Teresa awards on Nov 9|url=http://www.dnaindia.com/mumbai/report-harmony-foundation-to-host-mother-teresa-awards-on-nov-9-2033089|date=8 November 2014|work=dna|publisher=Diligent Media Corporation Ltd.|access-date=11 November 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Mother Teresa Awards given to promoters of social justice|url=http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/news/mother-teresa-awards-given-to-promoters-of-social-justice/|publisher=Catholic News Agency|access-date=14 December 2014}}</ref> On the 1st of December 2021, Fr. Prakash was conferred the Fr. Louis Careno Award by the Indian Catholic Press Association (ICPA) in [[Mumbai]] for his courageous contribution to journalism and bold writings on socio-cultural and political issues, especially relating to [[communalism]] and [[fundamentalism]].<ref>{{Cite web|last=Kavi|first=Jose|date=8 November 2021|title=Jesuit activist-writer wins prestigious journalism award|url=https://mattersindia.com/2021/11/jesuit-activist-writer-wins-prestigious-journalism-award/|url-status=live|access-date=1 December 2021|website=Matters India}}</ref>

==Publications==

[[File:Cedric Prakash Mother Teresa Award.jpg|thumb|Fr. Cedric Prakash conferred The Mother Teresa International Award in 2013]]In October 2018, the Loyola Press Chicago published a brilliant coffee-table-style book ‘Sharing the Wisdom of Time’ by [[Pope Francis]] and Friends.<ref>{{Cite book|last=Pope Francis & Friends|title=SHARING THE WISDOM OF TIME|publisher=Loyola Press Chicago|year=2018|isbn=978-0-8294-4622-7|location=USA|language=English}}</ref>  One of Fr. Prakash's real-life stories is featured in it. [[Pope Francis]] has written a warm personal response in the book to Fr. Prakash's testimony.

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