KOCHI — V.K. Abdul Aziz, founder of International Interfaith Dialogue India (IIDI) and director of Al-Hayat International Schools in Jeddah, has won a prestigious award instituted by the Malayala Puraskara Samithy (Malayala Awarding Group of Kerala).
Abdul Aziz was selected for the group in appreciation of his efforts to promote interfaith dialogue and communal harmony. Justice K. Sukumaran presented the award to Abdul Aziz and other winners who were honored considering their valuable contributions.
K.L. Mohana Varma received the award for literature, Dr. Anantha Narayanan for medicine, K.M Roy for media, Thomas Berli for actor, H.E Muhammad Babu Sait for social service, K. Ramachandran for art, sculpture, Kanjanamma for actress, Nirmala Raveendranadh for music, P.M. Abdul Aziz for natural farming.
The awardees were presented with mementos and shawl by eminent luminaries at a function held at BTH, Kochi.
Ismail Kottapurath welcomed the gathering. AK Puthussery, an eminent writer, was the keynote speaker.
The winners thanked the Samithy for the honor.
In his acceptance speech, Abdul Aziz made a passionate call for the restoration of human values by quoting the Sanskrit verse, “Loka Samastha Sukhino Bhavanthu” (Let the whole world be happy).
He asked the audience to rebuild India and transform it into a “model nation” upholding its stupendous stature as a multi-cultural, multi-religious and multi-lingual nation.
Speaking about IIDI, Abdul Aziz said it has received the support of prominent personalities such as Dr. K.J. Yesudas, music patriarch of India.
Yesudas is the peace ambassador and chief patron of the organization, he added. Other outstanding personalities associated with IIDI are Sankaracharya Onkarand Saraswathy Maharaj of Prayag, Justice P.K. Shamsudheen, Swamy Agnivesh, Professor M.D Nalapat, Rev. Fr. Dr. Vincent Kundukulam, and K.P. Ramanunni, a leading novelist.
Abdul Aziz called upon Indians at least to lit a candle, rather than blaming the darkness, by reviving human values. “Values are kernel of every authentic religion. It’s the only way out from the engulfing gloominess, injustice, war and violence.”
Abdul Aziz is also the founder of the Indian Forum for Socioeconomic Development (IFSED) and an ardent advocate of interest-free banking and finance in India.
