NEW YORK (TIP): The spirit of Diwali illuminated the halls of the United Nations on December 2 as four distinguished diplomats received the Diwali “Power of One” Awards for exceptional service to diplomacy and multilateral engagement. The ceremony recognized Ambassador Jonathan R. Cohen (USA), Dennis Francis (Trinidad & Tobago), Darja Bavdaž Kuret (Slovenia), and Magzhan Ilyassov (Kazakhstan) for their sustained contributions toward peace, dialogue, and international cooperation. The presence of Lakshmi Puri, the first “Power of the One” awardee, added meaning and grace to the awards ceremony.
The awards are organized by Diwali Foundation USA, under the leadership of its Chair, Ranju Batra, whose tireless advocacy has elevated Diwali onto global institutional platforms, including the UN. This year’s ceremony was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Georgia to the United Nations, reflecting the Foundation’s collaborative approach with diplomatic missions that champion cultural understanding as a tool for global harmony.
The awards were co-organized by the Permanent Missions of Andorra, Armenia, Belarus, Chile, El Salvador, Eritrea, , India, Kazakhstan,, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Morocco, Sri Lanka, Zambia, and the National Advisory Council South Asian Affairs.
A Mission Rooted in Light
The “Power of One” Awards were created to celebrate individuals whose diplomatic service exemplifies the Diwali ideal—light over darkness, knowledge over ignorance, and unity in diversity. At the United Nations, where multilateralism meets daily tests, the awards highlight the vital role played by individual diplomats in advancing the UN Charter’s ideals.
The honorees represented different regions of the world but shared common traits: commitment to dialogue, ability to build consensus, and dedication to peaceful solutions. Each award citation spoke to years of diplomatic leadership—on peace processes, regional security, humanitarian relief, and institutional reform.
The Diwali Stamp: Seven Years of Perseverance
The awards’ story is inseparable from the movement that sparked them: the long, determined campaign to secure official recognition for Diwali through a U.S. postal stamp. For seven years, Ranju Batra led an unprecedented grassroots effort to persuade the United States Postal Service to issue a Diwali commemorative stamp. The campaign galvanized a nationwide coalition across faiths, ethnicities, and political lines—uniting community organizations, interfaith leaders, and lawmakers behind a single message: Diwali is not merely a festival, but a global symbol of hope and renewal, deserving national recognition.
That perseverance bore fruit when the Diwali stamp entered public life, placing a cherished cultural and spiritual emblem into everyday American usage. The stamp was celebrated widely as a victory not for one community, but for America’s pluralism.
Germination of “Power of One”
In a poignant turn of events, the Power of One awards themselves were born at the United Nations when diplomats honored Ranju Batra for her relentless pursuit of the Diwali stamp. That recognition—by ambassadors and envoys at the UN—was the seed from which the awards grew.
At that event, colleagues and diplomats saluted what they described as her “heroic struggle” to translate a community aspiration into national policy. Not long afterward, the Diwali Foundation USA institutionalized that inspiration into an annual award that would, in turn, recognize diplomats who embody the same spirit of persistence, bridge-building, and public service.
Speaking at the ceremony, Ranju Batra, Chair of Diwali Foundation USA, said:
“The Power of One is not an idea; it is action. It is the belief that a single voice, when guided by purpose, can awaken institutions and move nations. When diplomats are honored here tonight, we are also honoring the principle that peace is built one conversation at a time.”
She added that the Diwali stamp journey was “proof that ordinary citizens can achieve extraordinary outcomes when they refuse to give up.”
Ravi Batra, Chair of the National Advisory Council for South Asian Affairs, emphasized diplomacy’s human dimension, stating:
“We created the Power of One Awards to recognize those who quietly make the world safer and fairer—often far from headlines. Diplomats are the first responders to conflict and the architects of peace.”
He also highlighted the organizers’ philosophy:
“Diwali is a global language of light, and diplomacy is its daily practice.”
Over the years, the Power of One Awards have recognized a growing roster of senior diplomats and public servants from across continents—Europe, Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, and the Americas—each selected for impact at the United Nations and in their regions. The breadth of awardees reflects the Foundation’s guiding belief: peace has many accents but one purpose.
As UN diplomats gathered for the awards, Diwali’s enduring metaphor resonated: light expands when shared. The Power of One, the organizers insist, is not about solitary heroism; it is about courage that spreads.
With each passing year, the Power of One Awards are becoming a fixture in the UN’s cultural calendar, amplifying stories of principled diplomacy. The Diwali Foundation USA plans to expand youth outreach, academic partnerships, and interfaith programming, ensuring that Diwali’s message reaches classrooms, community centers, and council chambers alike.
For The Indian Panorama, the ceremony stands as testimony that the Indian diaspora’s cultural energy can move global institutions—quietly, persistently, and with grace.
About Diwali Foundation USA
Diwali Foundation USA is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting Diwali as a universal festival of light, peace, and unity. It led the nationwide movement for the Diwali stamp and founded the Power of One Awards to honor excellence in diplomacy and public service.
Be the first to comment