MUMBAI, INDIA (ANS) -- A 75-year-old American national, who has been promoting Gandhian principles and ideals outside India for more than three decades, was honored at the 32nd Jamnalal Bajaj Awards in Mumbai on Friday, November 6.

Father Peter Dougherty

According to the DNA Mumbai newspaper, Father Peter Dougherty from Michigan, a Roman Catholic priest, peace activist and a specialist in non-violence, received the “International Award for promoting Gandhian values outside India” from the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation at the YB Chouhan Centre in Mumbai.

The paper reported, “Speaking on the occasion, Minal Bajaj, Director Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation, said, ‘It feels good that people living in both India and western countries follow Mahatma Gandhi's principles and ideologies.’”

“I am honored and humbled...This is an incredible privilege," said Dougherty, who has devoted almost 33 years of his life in support of abolition of nuclear weapons and forming a Shanti Sena (Peace Army) to go into conflict zones in Bosnia, Middle East and Central America aiming at world peace.

The sources said, the awards constitutes a trophy and a cash prize of Rs5 lakh (approx $10,000 US dollars)

According to the news source,the awards were presented for valuable work in four categories - constructive work, science and technology for rural development, development of welfare of women and children and for promotion of Gandhian values outside India.

The sources cited that all the awardees said they were privileged to receive such an award and it drives them to do more work.

The Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation was established in 1977 in the memory of Jamnalal Bajaj, a close associate of Mahatma Gandhi.

The Foundation strives to serve the ideals to which Jamnalal Bajaj had dedicated his life and promotes the kind of Gandhian constructive activities in which he himself was deeply involved during his life-time.

James Varghese is a reporter for Masihat newspaper in India, and is also a freelance journalist working for ANS.