The awarding of this years Nobel peace prize to the American president Barack Obama is a travesty of the unparallel prestige of the award. It seems Nobles are now being awarded only for “Audacity of hope” rather than audacity of action.
The Nobel Prize is the highest honor that can be conferred on a person on this planet.They are considered as a recognition of one’s lifetime achievement and dedication. But in Mr. Obama’s case no such criterions have been fulfilled. He has just embarked upon his arduous task as the American president to convert into reality what he hopes of achieving. I am not questioning his sincerity to bring an end to violence or his endeavors for nuclear disarmament. But it will take many years before these endeavors are transformed into a reality. And the coveted prize would have been very appropriate at that juncture when his hopes began to materialize.
I would like to stress that a person, however magnanimous and great he might be, can never be judged in a few months time. A person has to stand the test of time before he receives kudos for his work.Won't it be ludicrous to confer a lifetime achievement Oscar award on a debutant actor, however splendid his performance might be? This analogy very aptly applies to Mr. Obama getting Nobel.
What makes this Nobel more incongruous is the fact that Mr. Obama as the American president is currently spearheading a gory war in Afghanistan and Iraq. There are still reports of rampant violence and huge number of civilian causalities in these areas. I think this award brings to fore a piquant irony and best describes the word oxymoron-the president of a country engaged into two violent wars is awarded the highest peace prize. As if war and peace have become synonymous.
I believe that there were many other strong contenders for this coveted awarded. There are hundreds of NGO leaders who are working selflessly in war zones and endeavoring tirelessly to make our earth free from violence. These faceless philanthropists receive no recognition for their earnest efforts. I think a Nobel for any of such philanthropists would have sent a good message at the present scenario where the scourge of violence and terrorism has endangered world peace.
It was a premature decision.I mean when has the Nobel been awarded for intentions alone.Alferd Nobel willed that these awards we bestowed to any living individual with commendable contribution in the field of sciences,literature and on someone championing the cause of peace.Imagine an era when the Nobels will be distributed merely on the
ReplyDeleteprobability of achievement in the foreseeable future.This has happened in 1994 when Yasser Arafat was awarded Nobel for signing the not so successful Oslo accord with Israel.Today history has repeated itself.Obama'a clarion call "Yes we can" seems to have got the nobel committee's attention.Sirs, you should have waited till the "can" turned into "have".With a mockery being made out of the world's highest honor should we expect all those banned terrorist cells to become Nobel laureates once they lay down their weapons.
Hence a controversy. Much like several others. But I doubt that'd undermine the Nobel prize's value - it still has its head high for science. Nice post btw. :)
ReplyDeleteMr. Obama got the recognization just in 6 months what Mr.Gandhi didn’t received after whole life struggle for peace and harmony with peace and harmony.Here I am not questioning about the credibility of Mr.Gandhi but questioning about the credibility of Noble prize.we are asked to improve communication and oratory skills in college and here is the example what a good orator can do.it seems Mr.Obama really worked very hard on this lesson in college and that paid him noble prize.some time I feel very pity for Mr. Nehru .He sacrificed so much of india’s future for noble prize(bringing up kashmir dispute in UN,Panchsheel sidhant,Hindi chini bhai bhai all were the part of noble prize compaign)he didn’t even get the nomination.Mr. stalin,hitler,fidel castro got the nomination for the noble peace prize..
ReplyDeleteHumbled Obama accepted the noble prize and why not..?every wise person would do that.only fool can kick to USD 14 lacs that also tax free and unmatchable respect.Mr. Obama is carrying the burden two war,stumbled economy so we cant expect much from him for world peace and progress.Let him lead the US toward peace and progress half of the world will automatically follow him.