Historian Ramachandra Guha selected for 2025 Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award-Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Renowned Indian historian and author Ramachandra Guha has been chosen for the 2025 'Mahatma Gandhi Seva Award-Karnataka', the state government announced on Wednesday.
Instituted by the Department of Information and Public Relations, the award is presented annually to individuals and institutions who have made significant contributions to promoting the life values of Mahatma Gandhi in society, a press release said.
To mark Gandhi’s birth anniversary, the Karnataka government is organising a series of programmes across the state, involving active participation from the public, schools, and colleges.
As part of these celebrations, Guha was chosen for this year’s award in recognition of his “outstanding role” in spreading Gandhian philosophy, values, and socially oriented thought among the people, the release added.
Guha has gained international acclaim for his extensive research and writings on contemporary Indian history, political movements, environmental struggles, and cricket, it said.
His major works include: 'India After Gandhi', 'A Corner of a Foreign Field, 'Gandhi Before India', 'Gandhi: The Years That Changed the World' and 'The Unquiet Woods'.
“These works not only enrich historical scholarship but also reach ordinary readers in an accessible style, inspiring intellectual reflection within society,” the release said.
It added that “Dr Guha occupies a unique position for his deep analysis of Gandhian philosophy and his ability to relate it meaningfully to contemporary India.”
His two-volume Gandhi biography has been translated into several languages, including Kannada.
Through the award, the state government “reaffirms its commitment to introducing Gandhi’s ideals to the younger generation and to strengthening the values of truth, non-violence, peace, and service-mindedness,” the release further said.
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West Asia: India supplied 22,000 MT of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March, says MEA
New Delhi (PTI): Amid the ongoing West Asia conflict, India has supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March and has received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements, the MEA said on Friday.
At his weekly briefing, Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal in his response to a query related to requests received from India's neighbouring countries for fuel amid the West Asia situation, also said that India is "finalising a government-to-government agreement" for the supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing energy security of Mauritius.
The conflict in West Asia has now stretched to nearly 50 days, with global ramifications.
"So, we have received requests from our neighbouring countries for supply of fuel, and these are being looked into, keeping in mind our own requirements, availability and refining capacity," Jaiswal told reporters.
He further said India has "supplied 22,000 metric tonnes of high-speed diesel to Bangladesh in March 2026, and further supplies have continued this month as well".
"You would recall that last month we had supplied 38 metric tonnes of petroleum products to Sri Lanka as well," he added.
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar visited Mauritius last week, the MEA spokesperson said, adding, "We are finalising a government-to-government agreement for supply of oil and gas, which will play an important role in reinforcing the energy security of Mauritius".
As far as Nepal is concerned, there is an existing arrangement between Indian Oil Corporation and Nepal Oil Corporation to supply petroleum products to Nepal as per its requirements. The supplies are continuing without any interruption, he said.
Energy supplies to Bhutan also continue according to the existing arrangement.
"As I had mentioned earlier, we have received a request from Seychelles and the Maldives to meet their energy requirements. We continue to be in touch with them in this regard, and are considering the request keeping in mind our own domestic requirements and availability of fuel.
"I would also like to add that our neighbouring country governments have expressed appreciation for the uninterrupted supply, fuel supply to them during the West Asian conflict," Jaiswal said.
Global oil and gas prices surged after Iran restricted the transit of ships through the Strait of Hormuz, a narrow lane between the Persian Gulf and the Gulf of Oman that handles roughly 20 per cent of global oil and LNG trade.
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