MADURAI
Henri Tiphagne, founder and executive director of Madurai-based human rights organisation People’s Watch, has been selected for the Nani A. Palkhiwala Award for Civil Liberties this year under the individuals category.
The award carries a cash prize of ₹ 2.5 lakh and a citation. The selection was made by a panel of judges comprising retired Judges of Supreme Court of India Sujata Manohar and S.N. Variava and Chairperson of Infosys Foundation Sudha N. Murthy.
Thanking the Nani A. Palkhiwala Memorial Trust and the panel of judges for choosing him for the award, Mr. Tiphagne told The Hindu that the award cannot be seen as a recognition of his individual efforts, but for the collective work in defending human rights he had been part of with like-minded activists and victims of human rights abuse over the years.
He said that at a time when there were several challenges to the principles of dissent and democracy in the country, he was humbled to receive this award in the name of a person who fought for these principles in the courts of law.
“The award is also a boost for continuing the fight for dissent, democracy and human rights not only in the courts of law, but also on the streets,” he added.
The award will be presented on the occasion of the 16th Nani A. Palkhiwala Memorial Lecture to be delivered by Justice R.F. Nariman, Judge, Supreme Court of India, on December 15, 2018 in Mumbai. Mr. Tiphagne has previously received the Amnesty International’s Human Rights Award in the year 2016.
COMMents
SHARE