The Missing Peace Laureate

President Obama received the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize today. The awarding of the 2009 Nobel Peace Prize to Obama has drawn considerable criticism. It was a big surprise for everyone, including Obama himself, as he has been President for only nine months and has yet to deliver meaningful results. Obama himself humbly admitted he does not deserve the honor. This year's decision gives further credence to past accusations that the Nobel Peace Prize has become a political award.

Mahatma (The Great Soul) Gandhi, the very apostle of peace, was not chosen for the Peace Prize despite being nominated five times, the last time in 1948 just before his assassination, presumably because Norway feared annoying the British Government. The Selection Committee was ashamed enough that they did not award the 1948 Peace Prize to anyone.

Gandhi not only mobilized India’s 330 million people to freedom from 200 years of British rule, he did it using solely non-violent means. Upon Gandhi’s death, Albert Einstein said, “Generations to come will scarce believe that such a one as this ever in flesh and blood walked upon this earth.”

Gandhi’s example of non-violent resistance was subsequently emulated by many leaders in various parts of the world to fight oppression and injustice. Two followers of Gandhi’s path, America’s Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and South Africa’s Rev. Tutu, have been recognized with the honor of the Peace Prize; however Gandhi has not.

Interestingly, Gandhi’s popularity has grown with the passage of time. Statues and streets around the world are built and named for him. Whenever peaceful resistance against injustice and oppression is discussed, pundits speak of Gandhi’s way. It is clear Gandhi does not need the Peace Prize; rather, the Peace Prize needs Gandhi for its own credibility.

Denial of the Peace Prize to Gandhi was an unjust act of cowardice and stupidity. Recently, the Nobel Foundation expressed regret for its mistake. Though the Nobel Foundation needs to do a serious evaluation of the selection process for the Peace Prize and make the necessary amendments, the first step is to correct this historic wrong by awarding the 1948 Peace Prize posthumously to Gandhi. A one time exception to the Foundation’s living person rule is justified for this purpose. Otherwise the Nobel Peace Prize will remain tainted forever.