Why Gandhi Never Won the Nobel Peace Prize
India Legal|December 28, 2020
Despite being the father of non-violence and peace, the Mahatma missed getting the prestigious prize five times though he was nominated for it. Shockingly, those far less worthy were awarded
Saju Jakob, Nancy Shah and Himanshu Singh
Why Gandhi Never Won the Nobel Peace Prize

MARK Twain once said: “Clothes make the man. Naked people have little or no influence on society.” But there was one half-naked man who changed the course of history forever. He taught people something that nobody could have imagined—“How to win a war without violence.”

Mahatma Gandhi is often considered a synonym for ahimsa and peace. His work, ideologies and policy of non-violent civil disobedience not only continue to leave a lasting mark, but stimulate us to stand against wrong in a peaceful way. So it is a startling realisation that despite him being a global icon of peace, Gandhi was never bestowed the Nobel Peace Prize. He was, however, nominated five times for this prestigious award—in 1937, 1938, 1939, 1947 and 1948 following his demise.

Geir Lundestad, the 2006 Secretary of the Nobel Committee, said: “Gandhi could do without the Nobel Peace Prize but whether the Nobel committee can do without Gandhi is the question.”

So what made the Norwegian Nobel Prize Committee withhold the prize to Gandhi when the same reasons given to justify the denial by the Committee did not stop it from giving the Nobel to others? The first time Gandhi was nominated was in 1937 by Ole Colbjørnsen, a member of the Norwegian Storting (Parliament) from the Labour Party. The organisation believed that it was a critical report by Prof Jacob Worm-Muller, advisor to the Norwegian Nobel Committee, that led to Gandhi forfeiting the prize the first time. While he referred to Gandhi as “undoubtedly, a good, noble and ascetic person—a prominent man who is deservedly honoured and loved by the masses of India”, he had reservations about him as a political leader.

Esta historia es de la edición December 28, 2020 de India Legal.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

Esta historia es de la edición December 28, 2020 de India Legal.

Comience su prueba gratuita de Magzter GOLD de 7 días para acceder a miles de historias premium seleccionadas y a más de 9,000 revistas y periódicos.

MÁS HISTORIAS DE INDIA LEGALVer todo
PIL, Difficult To Swallow?
India Legal

PIL, Difficult To Swallow?

In a recent ruling, the Bombay High Court lamented the increasing number of frivolous public interest litigations being filed in courts and echoed the sentiments of the Supreme Court that such litigations are the bane of the judicial system. Is there any way to restrict their misuse?

time-read
6 minutos  |
February 13, 2023
Till Infertility Do Us Part...
India Legal

Till Infertility Do Us Part...

The Calcutta High Court slammed a husband for initiating divorce proceedings due to his wife's infertility and asked him to be a pillar of support for her. Courts have often taken an empathetic view in such matters

time-read
4 minutos  |
February 13, 2023
IS THAT LEGAL?
India Legal

IS THAT LEGAL?

Ignorance of law is no excuse. Here are answers to frequently asked queries regarding matters that affect us on a day-to-day basis

time-read
3 minutos  |
February 13, 2023
The Big Lie
India Legal

The Big Lie

In America, The Big Lie is an idiom used by Donald Trump's opponents and the media to describe his constant gripe about election fraud. Now, it seems more suited to another Republican, Congressman George Santos (right), who has been facing growing calls to resign after he admitted fabricating parts of his resume and biography since his election in New York last year.

time-read
1 min  |
February 13, 2023
Flying into the Sunset
India Legal

Flying into the Sunset

Over 50 years since the first and original jumbo jet, the Boeing 747, took to the skies and revolutionized air travel, the last of the legendary aircraft (right) was delivered to a freight charter company, bringing down the curtain on one of aviation's most successful products.

time-read
1 min  |
February 13, 2023
Star Crossed
India Legal

Star Crossed

Actor and producer Alec Baldwin is a Hollywood legend, having starred in a range of movies, award winning TV sitcoms, and theatre. He was most recently seen in Mission Impossible Fallout, which is an apt description of his current situation.

time-read
1 min  |
February 13, 2023
Walkouts in the UK
India Legal

Walkouts in the UK

An estimated half a million workers have gone on strike, shutting down thousands of schools, public transport and border disruption. It is the biggest day of industrial action for more than a decade.

time-read
1 min  |
February 13, 2023
Myanmar's Misery
India Legal

Myanmar's Misery

Two years after the military coup ousted the elected government led by Aung San Suu Kyi, the brutal crackdown by the junta on so-called \"insurgents\" and civilian protesters has reached a new level with the use of air strikes, a new and deadly tactic in the ongoing civil war.

time-read
1 min  |
February 13, 2023
AMERICA'S ANGST
India Legal

AMERICA'S ANGST

From messy, divisive politics to a series of mass shootings, and now black officers brutally beating another black man to death as seen in bodycam videos, America's domestic convulsions are cause for serious introspection

time-read
4 minutos  |
February 13, 2023
JUSTICE LEAGUE
India Legal

JUSTICE LEAGUE

There are few judicial appointment procedures in the world that are completely bereft of the overarching presence of either the executive or the legislature, or both. In the end, the judge is left with all the powers vested in him/her by the constitution to uphold the rule of law, within an atmosphere of external influences

time-read
9 minutos  |
February 13, 2023