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Updated June 12, 2008
News and information about Peace Abbey events.
BEN KINGSLEY RECEIVES COURAGE OF CONSCIENCE AWARD
By Leah J. Matuson
Hometown Weekly Correspondent
Excitement was in the air when, on June 26th, a small group gathered at Montrose School in Medfield to present world-renowned actor, Sir Ben Kingsley, with the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience award. The award celebrates causes, and awards are given to those who the public can personally identify with a given cause.
Kingsley, star of both stage and screen with numerous credits to his name has played a wide range of characters. But perhaps his best known role is that of Mohandas K. Gandhi, the title role in Richard AttenboroughÕs award-winning 1982 epic biography, Gandhi, which earned Kingsley an Oscar and the enduring respect of critics and filmgoers alike. And it was for his extraordinary portrayal of the highly venerated leader that Kingsley was now being honored with the Peace Abbey Courage of Conscience Award.
In addition to receiving this noteworthy honor, Kingsley had also come to view the striking nine-foot tall statue of Gandhi that had been on display at Montrose for the past few months.
Standing in front of the statue, Maureen Howard of Montrose School welcomed Kingsley on behalf of students, staff and guests while Lewis Randa, Director of the Peace Abbey in Sherborn spoke a few words about the prestigious Courage of Conscience Award. Vani Manchanda, 2008 Montrose School graduate, then read the inscription on the award before personally presenting it to Kingsley. Ms. Manchanda was instrumental in having the traveling statue of Gandhi placed at Montrose several months before.
Dressed in a 3-piece suit and sporting a bow tie, Kingsley has been shooting a movie based on the Dennis Lehane novel, Shutter Island, on the grounds of Medfield State Hospital. He was noticeably moved as he was presented the award, graciously thanking everyone. Kingsley then spoke about Gandhi, the power of film, and about bringing the remarkable motion picture to Palestine three years ago, though more then 23 years after it had originally opened.
"We cannot underestimate the power of film. It is in that context that I thank you very much for this wonderful award. I receive it as a storyteller, not as a politician, not as a peacemaker, but as a story teller. The stories are powerful, I promise you, working all over the world.
"In 2005, we took the film to Palestine. It was dubbed by 137 Palestinian actors speaking perfect Palestinian Arabic. It was a beautiful print. As you can imagine, the cinema was packed by young people, and during the film spontaneous discussions broke out." Kingsley continued, "I do know that since our film was shown - and there are thousands
of DVDs in Palestine now, people have been greatly influenced by the film and by Gandhi."
Ms. Manchanda's grandmother, visiting from India, spoke to the actor in front of the gathering. "I am from the land of Gandhi, and we are so grateful for you taking the message of Gandhi all over the world."
After a rousing applause, Kingsley was presented with gifts from Montrose School and the Peace Abbey. With his tight schedule, he was unable to stay for very long but graciously thanked everyone again. Though the event was brief, it was moving and everyone who had been in attendance had been touched by it.
The Gandhi statue residing at the Montrose School is a fiberglass replica of the original one located on the Peace Abbey grounds. This replica was a gift from Lado Goudjabidze, the internationally acclaimed sculptor of the original statue.
Ms. Manchanda knew of the second sculpture and had approached Montrose with the idea of displaying the statue, knowing it was the perfect opportunity to have an extraordinary symbol of the highly revered person of courage and peace, and an inspiration to millions.
The statue, a traveling exhibit that comes with literature on the life and teachings of Gandhi, has traveled to the Harvard Divinity School, to museums and public places throughout New York City and Boston, and to Brandeis University to name just a few locales, dwelling in any one place from six weeks to three months or longer.
Ms. Manchanda was also the driving force that allowed the original, nine-foot high, bronze statue of Gandhi to remain at its home at the Peace Abbey.
Says Ms. Manchanda, "Last year I had read that to raise money, the Peace Abbey might have to sell statue the statue of Gandhi. It needs to be at the Peace Abbey for all to see, not auctioned off to sit in someone's backyard." So strongly did she feel that she set up the Gandhi Shanti Project.
That was over a year ago. Since then, with the support of friends, family and concerned individuals, Vani raised over $5000. Although still more was needed to save the statue from the auction block, Randa remarks, "It was Vani's commitment and devotion to saving the statue that led to the Peace Abbey taking it off the market." Randa continues, "Not only did we want to honor her purity of intention and commitment, but we wanted to ensure that people throughout New England would have a special place to reflect on the teachings of Gandhi and of non-violence."
Late last year the Peace Abbey shareholder program was instituted in order to provide interest free loans to the Peace Abbey. To date over 230 individuals have loaned the Peace Abbey $1000 each in interest free loans with a goal of $400,000.
Any public or private institution interested in hosting the traveling Gandhi exhibit, or any individual looking for information on becoming a Peace Abbey shareholder may contact Lewis Randa or Dot Walsh at the Peace Abbey at 508 655-2143 or www.peaceabbey.org.
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