Peace Run Executive Director Salil Wilson welcomed everyone to this year's Torch-Bearer award presentation held annually in conjunction with Peace Run Founder Sri Chinmoy's passing on October 11, 2007.
This year we were delighted to host the event at Aspiration-Ground, a beautiful meditation garden, where Sri Chinmoy spent hours everyday when he was in New York.
Paree's International Women's Choir sang peace themed songs composed by Sri Chinmoy.
Lyrics of one of the songs:
Only the peace-dreamers, Peace-lovers and peace-servers Can transform the world.
- Sri Chinmoy
Dr. Agraha very kindly organised today's inspiring ceremony invited Coach Hurt, a previous Torch-Bearer award recipient, to share some of his recollections of Sri Chinmoy.
Coach Jim Hurt is St Johns University’s long-time track coach. His athletes have appeared in NCAA Championships for 28 consecutive years, in 17 USA National Championships, and five USA Olympic Trials while winning 35 Metropolitan Conference titles.
Coach Jim Hurt said, “I will always remember Sri Chinmoy coming to St. John’s track to run and throw discus. Sri Chinmoy had a unique running style that was perfect technique with a flowing stride. I will never forget his discipline, and I sometimes thought I wish our athletes had the same discipline that Sri Chinmoy had!”
Sanjay Rawal, documentary film director, introduced our first recipient.
Michael Royce is the CEO of New York Foundation for the Arts, a nationally recognized nonprofit that provides artists and cultural workers with funding, entrepreneurial training, and resources for defining and achieving career success. Working to redirect NYFA towards inclusive representation, he has launched sustained initiatives such as the Immigrant Artist Program, Artist as Entrepreneur Program, and the Emerging Leaders Program.
Upon receiving the award Michael very soulfully expressed his sincere gratitude not so much for receiving the award but for all the people whose self-giving contribute to the Peace Run "because without peace we have nothing at all.... what happens here is a strong, deeply felt sense of love and purpose that will hopefully conquer all the violence."
Nilima Silver, General Secretary of Sri Chinmoy: The Peace Meditation at the United Nations, introduced our next guest.
In 2018, Janelle Farris became Executive Director and President of Brooklyn Community Services. She began working for BCS as the Chief Operating Officer in the fall of 2013. In this position Ms. Farris was responsible for management of BCS programs, Human Resources and operations related to office and program relocation. Janelle has extensive non-profit management experience.
In accepting the award Janelle shared a truly profound experience from her formative years. "I made a deal with God at that time that I would serve for the rest of my life to ensure that God's work would be met. Helping people and serving people is a worthy cause."
Kritagyata Nicholls, Executive Director of Oneness-Heart Tears and Smiles and registered nurse introduced our next recipient.
Dr. Joshua Stern, MD is a clinical cardiac electrophysiologist in Roslyn, NY and has over 20 years of experience in the medical field. He graduated from New York University in 2004. He specializes in Clinical Cardiac Electrophysiology.
Dr. Mona and son Nathaniel lovingly present Dr. Joshua with the Torch-Bearer award.
Dr. Stern shared how he and his family first learned about Sri Chinmoy by eating at our vegetarian restaurant Annam Brahma and how that relationship grew into participating in the Sri Chinmoy races. Dr. Stern went on to share how much he was inspired by Kritagyata's concern and love for some people she had accompanied on visits and subsequent operations performed by Dr. Stern.
Vasudha Deming, our Peace Run coordinator from San Diego introduced Crystal Price who serves as Chief Engagement Officer for the New York City Mayor’s office.
Crystal works to connect residents to their government in active, meaningful ways. Previously a public servant in Washington D.C., including work at the U.S. House of Representatives, Crystal is committed to finding positive and powerful ways to involve New Yorkers in the decisions that affect their daily lives.
Through a variety of initiatives and activities, Crystal empowers a diverse population of 8 million New Yorkers to know more, do more, and love their city more!
Crystal with colleague Jonathon Panuela, Deputy Chief Engagement Officer and Chief of Staff.
In accepting the award Crystal remarked, "This is an invitation to live the values that Sri Chinmoy championed."
Crystal went on to share a quote from Sri Chinmoy she found inspiring, "Lasting peace must begin within the depths of the individual and from there spread in ever widening circles."
Crystal concluded by saying, "That same spirit guides our work. Helping city government listen, respond and act alongside residents so that every New Yorker feels hear, feels valued and feels empowered."
The international Peace Run choir sang two more songs.
A new world of peace, A new world of light, A new world of height, Can alone give me Satisfaction-delight.
- Sri Chinmoy
My gratitude-heart Always knows The way. My oneness-perfection Always is The way.
- Sri Chinmoy
The singers then announced their nations. Paree form USA followed by Boijayanti from Puerto Rico.
Parichayaka from Austria followed by Vrishaketu from Canada.
Dr. Lunthita Duthely, Research Associate Professor at University of Miami, introduced our next recipient.
Fatimah Barrie is Charter Big Apple Award Recipient plus a passionate History Educator, Instructional Leader, and Dean of Curriculum and Instruction Fellow with seven years of experience in middle school education. She currently teaches 5th grade history and serves as a Lead Lesson Planner at Uncommon Schools. Committed to expanding access to meaningful, culturally rich learning experiences.
In accepting the award Fatima said, "If we can find a way for different cultural groups to learn from one another we can achieve world peace.... In accepting this award this is a further pathway for me to continue to bridge the cultures with our youth to create more peace."
Seven minutes of World Peace organizer and St. Louis Peace Run Coordinator Nayana Tara Hein introduced our next guest.
Ellen Barrett is a fitness professional whose work embraces the interconnections between physical, mental and spiritual wellness. She fuses old and new modalities, like Pilates, yoga, barre and weight training, all while keeping a view on the entire being. One of her favorite sayings is “Movement is medicine”.
In Ellen’s 30+ years in the fitness industry, she has created innovative workouts for fitness clubs, shows and magazines, and has authored four wellness books. Despite her top-tiered national outreach and highly select private clientele, Ellen has never stopped being accessible and teaching online and in-person classes at affordable prices for the general public. Holistic fitness is her passion, and she inspires many to discover it for themselves.
During her acceptance speech, Ellen Barrett appreciated Sri Chinmoy’s views on wellness of the entire being, and also the beauty of his meditation garden, Aspiration-Ground. She noted that those in the audience were remarkably “present” – rooted in the here and now while reaching moving forward to new and higher experiences.
Mahatapa Palit, Associate Professor at CUNY and one of the co-coordinators of our Queens Meditation Centre introduced our next two guests.
M.M. Shahin is a Bangladeshi politician, successful businessman, journalist, and former parliamentarian. He was elected a member of parliament from the Moulvibazar-2 (Kulaura Upazila) seat in the general elections of February 1996 and 2001.
Mr. Shahin is the Chairman and Founder of the Thikana Media Group and CEO of the Weekly Thikana, a Bangladeshi community newspaper published in New York City, USA, that has been serving the Bangladeshi immigrant community since 1990. The newspaper covers domestic news from Bangladesh and international news, sports, politics, art, culture, literature, science, religion, editorials, and columns, with a special emphasis on Bangladesh.
In accepting the award Mr. Shahin said, "Standing here today at Aspiration Ground in the presence of Sri Chinmoy's spiritual peace and oneness is both humbling and uplifting. In his boundless vision, a vision of compassion, harmony and the unity of all people there lies this peace. Through his music, art and tieless service to humanity he showed how one persons inner life can touch countless lives. Thank you for including us in this circle of light and may we all continue to be torch-bearers of peace."
Mr. Fazlur Rahman is the News editor of the New York-based Bengali weekly Thikana. He started his career as a college lecturer in Bangladesh in 1973 after completing his Master's in Philosophy. Writing since he was in college, in 1978, he formally began his career as a journalist and has been working for various Bangla newspapers ever since. In 1993, he moved to NY in an editorial capacity and currently serves as their Chief Editor of Thikana.
An English translation of the editorial published in Weekly Thikana on October 25, 2007, by Mr. Fazlur Rahman shared a heartfelt message after Sri Chinmoy’s passing on October 11, 2007.
https://www.srichinmoy-reflections.com/remembering-sri-chinmoy
In accepting the award Mr. Rahman remarked, "I always think of myself as a servant of preaching peace. I would like to dedicate this award to peace loving people all over the world."
Mahatapa read out an excerpt translation from Bengali of a passage Mr. Rahman composed of his reflections of Sri Chinmoy, "With reverence I remember Sri Chinmoy, Bengal's own son, who devoted his life to the cause of peace. In a restless world he reminded us that peace begins within, in the quiet sanctuary of our hearts. Through his art, music poetry and athletics he spread the fragrance of peace across the globe awakening the divine within humanity. He taught us there is but one heart, the heart of humanity, there is but one song, the song of oneness and peace."
Fazlur Rahman's wife, Hashi Rahman, lovingly presents the Torch-Bearer award
Bitihara Martha Fulton, Board member of Community Board 8, introduced our final guest.
Mohammed Fakrul Islam known as Delwar came to the United States when he was 11 years old. Ten years later he founded the Jamaica Bangladeshi Friendship Society. Delwar was educated in the New York City School system and graduated with a degree in Business Management from Queensboro Community College. Delwar owns two businesses (Fatima Grocery Stores) on Hillside Avenue in Jamaica, NY.
Delwar is a long time active member of Queens Community Board 8. He is President of Jamaica Bangladeshi Friendship Society, Vice President of the recently formed Jamaica Hill Community Association, Joint Secretary of the Jamaica Muslim Center and Trustee Board Member of the Bangladeshi Society. Quite significantly Delwar is a long time friend and neighbor of the Sri Chinmoy Center in New York.
Among Delwar’s many goals are empowering small businesses and preserving the cultural heritage of Bangladesh while embracing the American Dream.
In accepting the award Delwar related a charming story of Sri Chinmoy requesting him to stock certain products in his shop. He went on to say, "When we come to this centre we feel like we are in a peaceful zone, where the world stops and we search for our inner soul."
He expressed this award will inspire him to continue his service to the community for now and for future generations.
Our choir concluded by singing our Congratulation song composed by Sri Chinmoy.
Here are the words to the song.
Congratulation, congratulation! Brother, sister, We hoist your supreme glory’s banner high. In you, for you, our blue-gold satisfaction-sky.
Some of our notable guests and Torch-Bearer recipients.
