INVC,,
Delhi,,
The Vice President of India, Shri M. Hamid Ansari conferred the “National Amity Award” posthumously for the year 2010 to late legendary actor and parliamentarian Shri Sunil Dutt at a function here today. The award was received by his daughter Mrs. Priya Dutt, Member of Parliament and it comprises of a Citation and a cash award of Rs One lakh. Addressing on the occasion the Vice President has said that the Fraternity’ lies at the core of the Preamble of our Constitution that the people of India have resolved to secure to all of its citizens. The Preamble mentions that such fraternity should assure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation. It is also the fundamental duty of every citizen, in accordance with Article 51A, to ‘promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities’.
The Vice President has said that Shri Sunil Dutt undertook this fundamental duty till his last breath. His role during natural, and may I add man-made, calamities, best represented what every citizen should do in pursuit of his or her fundamental duty to the nation. His Padyatras have had a lasting impact in spreading his message among common citizens and in sensitizing them about the need for social harmony.
Following is the text of the Vice President’s address on the occasion:-
“I am happy to participate in today’s function and give away the National Amity Award for promoting social harmony instituted by the Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity. The Foundation deserves our appreciation for its dedicated work for promoting amity, fraternity and brotherhood through out the country and thus contributing to national integration and social harmony.
The National Amity Award this year is being presented to that rare individual, who having achieved eminence in his chosen profession, has moved beyond it to devote his life for the cause of social harmony and national integration. Late Shri Sunit Dutt sahib thus joins the illustrious list of previous awardees. I welcome his daughter, and Member of Parliament, Ms. Priya Dutt, to this function, and convey the gratitude of the nation and of the many people whose lives were touched by Shri Sunil Dutt.
‘Fraternity’ lies at the core of the Preamble of our Constitution that the people of India have resolved to secure to all of its citizens. The Preamble mentions that such fraternity should assure the dignity of the individual and the unity and integrity of the nation. It is also the fundamental duty of every citizen, in accordance with Article 51A, to ‘promote harmony and the spirit of common brotherhood amongst all the people of India, transcending religious, linguistic and regional or sectional diversities’.
Shri Sunil Dutt undertook this fundamental duty till his last breath. His role during natural, and may I add man-made, calamities, best represented what every citizen should do in pursuit of his or her fundamental duty to the nation. His Padyatras have had a lasting impact in spreading his message among common citizens and in sensitizing them about the need for social harmony.
I am confident that the central message of Shri Sunil Dutt’s endeavours would continue through Ms. Priya Dutta and organizations like the Foundation for Amity and National Solidarity.
We must remember that, like everything else in life, social harmony and national integration must be nurtured and worked upon, consciously, at the level of individual citizens, social groups and communities, civil society and by the State.I thank the Foundation and Shri Virendar Mohan Trehan for inviting me to this function and wish it all success in its endeavours.”
