Divyodaya Celebrates 46 Years of Peacebuilding

Divyodaya Inter-religious Centre, Coimbatore marked a significant milestone as it celebrated its 46th Foundation Day with a grand event dedicated to the cause of peace and interfaith harmony. The occasion was made all the more special with the conferring of the first-ever Fr. John Peter Peace and Harmony Award on Dr. B.K. Krishnaraj Vanavarayar, a stalwart known for his intellectual brilliance, cultural leadership, and lifelong commitment to dialogue and unity.
Rev. Fr. John Peter CMI, the founder of Divyodaya, envisioned the centre as a space where people of all faiths and backgrounds could come together in mutual understanding. His legacy was honoured by recognizing Dr. Vanavarayar, whose contributions to society align closely with these ideals. Accepting the award, Dr. Vanavarayar was commended for his work in Peace-building, cultural dialogue, and service as a moral compass in public life. In his acceptance speech, Dr. Vanavarayar highlighted that 'we can wait for everything else, but not for peace.
The function was graced by Rev. Fr. Saju Chackalackal CMI, Provincial of the CMI Preshitha Province, who presided over the ceremony. Dr. Kezevino Aram, President of Shanti Ashram and globally known peace educator, and Dr. K.A. Kuriachan, former Rotary Governor and strong supporter of Divyodaya's mission, also felicitated the awardee and lauded the Centre's enduring 
relevance.