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Ma Jaya Presented with Humanitarian Service Awards by Gandhi Foundation USA , the King Center and the SCLC
"Touch one person and change the world, for every soul matters."
-- Ma Jaya
Speakers are, L to R, Rev. Love (SCLC) Ambassador Sen, Ambassador of India to US; Ma Jaya; Giriraj Rao, Executive Director of Ghandi Foundation USA; Anthony Thaliath, Deputy Executive Director The first U.N.-sanctioned International Day of Non-Violence was celebrated on Friday evening in honor of the 138th anniversary of the birth of Mahatma Gandhi. The interfaith event was sponsored by Gandhi Foundation USA, the SCLC and the King Center, and hosted by the King Center at the Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. National Historic Site in Atlanta, GA. Each year, Gandhi Foundation USA honors one individual and one organization with its Humanitarian Service Award, recognizing those who have created milestones in human rights and social causes. Ma Jaya Sati Bhagavati , internationally acclaimed spiritual teacher, was honored for her life's work fighting for the rights of others. The award was also presented to CARE, the international humanitarian relief organization.
Attendees began with a brief service at the site of the Gandhi memorial statue, followed by a peace march to the Freedom Hall Auditorium. The program featured keynote speaker Ronen Sen, Ambassador of India to the U.S.; Rev. Love of the Southern Christian Leadership Conference; and Isaac Farris, President and CEO of the King Center and nephew of the late visionary, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. and his wife, Coretta Scott King.
After being presented with the Gandhi Foundation USA's award, Ma Jaya spoke about service and its meaning in her life. "I was raised in a cardboard box by four African-American homeless men and women. They were drug addicts and prostitutes, and they made sure that this poor little white girl did everything she could to serve the poor and to make sure she did not end up like them," she said. One of them taught Ma Jaya her first lesson: "There are no 'throw away' people."
Friday, October 5, 2007
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Ma Jaya lights the arti lamp with Anthony Thalialath, Executive Director of the Gandhi Foundation

Isaac Farris, CEO and President of The King Center

Ma Jaya and Rev. Love SCLC

Ma Jaya at Gandhi Foundation courtesy Al Viola

Ma receiving award

Ma speaking at Gandhi Foundation Award courtesy Al Viola
 Peace March to Gandhi Award
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