Can you brief us the Story of Magsaysay award

I made a comment in official press conference in the Magsaysay foundation. When I was asked that what I thought of America’s policy about the war against terrorism. I said that US is the biggest terrorist state, which goes and terrorizes small states all over the world without any reason. The Afghanistan war had already started at that time in 2002.without giving any proof to the world that it was actually Osama Bin Laden’s organization responsible for the September 11 attacks. The US went and attacked Afghanistan. They could not catch Osama Bin Laden but the common Afghani’s had to pay the price for it, similarly we can see how the people of Iraq had to suffer.

After I had received the award (1 September 2002), on the next day I was going to a protest by a group of people called ‘Asian Peace of Alliance’. I was officially a part of their meeting also and the Magsaysay foundation knew about it. We were going to protest in the US embassy. The chair person of the Magsaysay foundation objected. She said that, my going at the US embassy would somehow harm their reputation. I argued with her. I told her that I had protested against the nuclear weapons of Indian government, so how could I keep myself away from this protest which was taking place against US, who are the main culprit in the entire game of warfare. She argued with me and after about 10 minutes, I told her that if she would not let me go then I would have to take a decision about whether I should accept this award or not. I went to the protest and next day in the local newspaper there was an opinion article on me. The box item in article said that if Pandey is the principal man that he would like us to believe then he should return the $ 50,000 to the US embassy before he goes back to India. Taking up that challenge which was posed to me, I decided to return the price money.

I kept the award because Magsaysay has being great president of Philippines. This award has being given to some people in our country who I consider as my ideals like Vinobha, Baba Amte. I didn’t want to disowner either Magsaysay or these people. Therefore I kept the award. I also wrote a letter to them saying that if ever they find my activities uncomfortable to them, then I’ll return the award too.