Mir Jafar Awards
Encyclopedia
The Mir Jafar Awards are spoof
awards awarded by the Dalal Foundation, a coalition of activist groups against environmental
and human rights
violations corporate crime
and state repression
in India.
These awards are presented to individuals who, in the foundation's opinion, commit or abet such activity, in particular politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. The awards are presented to individuals wearing masks representing the awardees, as the real ones are usually disinclined to attend the satirical ceremony.
, the 18th Century Nawab of Bengal
, India
, who conspired with the British East India Company
to overthrow Siraj-ud-Daulah. (See Mir Jafar#The overthrow of Siraj-Ud-Daulah.) The foundation compares the awardees' use of neoliberal policy and capitalism to Mir Jafar's conspiracy.
Individual awards are also named sarcastically and satirically, and may vary from year to year.
All implications and exposes are supported by evidence recovered by the activists.
on 11 August 2007. The key organisations involved were the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
and the Other Media, New Delhi
.
The ceremony drew attention to the ongoing controversy over the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
and violence in Nandigram
and Singur
.
Parody
A parody , in current usage, is an imitative work created to mock, comment on, or trivialise an original work, its subject, author, style, or some other target, by means of humorous, satiric or ironic imitation...
awards awarded by the Dalal Foundation, a coalition of activist groups against environmental
Environmentalism
Environmentalism is a broad philosophy, ideology and social movement regarding concerns for environmental conservation and improvement of the health of the environment, particularly as the measure for this health seeks to incorporate the concerns of non-human elements...
and human rights
Human rights
Human rights are "commonly understood as inalienable fundamental rights to which a person is inherently entitled simply because she or he is a human being." Human rights are thus conceived as universal and egalitarian . These rights may exist as natural rights or as legal rights, in both national...
violations corporate crime
Corporate crime
In criminology, corporate crime refers to crimes committed either by a corporation , or by individuals acting on behalf of a corporation or other business entity...
and state repression
Political repression
Political repression is the persecution of an individual or group for political reasons, particularly for the purpose of restricting or preventing their ability to take political life of society....
in India.
These awards are presented to individuals who, in the foundation's opinion, commit or abet such activity, in particular politicians, businessmen and bureaucrats. The awards are presented to individuals wearing masks representing the awardees, as the real ones are usually disinclined to attend the satirical ceremony.
The name
The Mir Jafar Awards are named after Mir JafarMir Jafar
-Notes:# "Riyazu-s-salatin", Ghulam Husain Salim - a reference to the appointment of Mohanlal can be found # "Seir Muaqherin", Ghulam Husain Tabatabai - a reference to the conspiracy can be found...
, the 18th Century Nawab of Bengal
Nawab of Bengal
The Nawabs of Bengal were the hereditary nazims or subadars of the subah of Bengal during the Mughal rule and the de-facto rulers of the province.-History:...
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
, who conspired with the British East India Company
British East India Company
The East India Company was an early English joint-stock company that was formed initially for pursuing trade with the East Indies, but that ended up trading mainly with the Indian subcontinent and China...
to overthrow Siraj-ud-Daulah. (See Mir Jafar#The overthrow of Siraj-Ud-Daulah.) The foundation compares the awardees' use of neoliberal policy and capitalism to Mir Jafar's conspiracy.
Individual awards are also named sarcastically and satirically, and may vary from year to year.
Criteria
The awards are not based on any objective criteria, but are meant to highlight issues given importance by the foundation and the roles of the awardees in these issues.All implications and exposes are supported by evidence recovered by the activists.
Awards so far
The first awards ceremony was held at New DelhiNew Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
on 11 August 2007. The key organisations involved were the International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal
The International Campaign for Justice in Bhopal is a coalition of disaster survivors and environmental, social justice, progressive Indian, and human rights groups that have joined forces to hold the Indian Government and Dow Chemical Corporation accountable for the ongoing chemical disaster in...
and the Other Media, New Delhi
New Delhi
New Delhi is the capital city of India. It serves as the centre of the Government of India and the Government of the National Capital Territory of Delhi. New Delhi is situated within the metropolis of Delhi. It is one of the nine districts of Delhi Union Territory. The total area of the city is...
.
The ceremony drew attention to the ongoing controversy over the Bhopal Gas Tragedy
Bhopal disaster
The Bhopal disaster also known as Bhopal Gas Tragedy was a gas leak incident in India, considered one of the world's worst industrial catastrophes. It occurred on the night of December 2–3, 1984 at the Union Carbide India Limited pesticide plant in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India...
and violence in Nandigram
Nandigram
Nandigram is a rural area with two commuunity development blocks in Haldia subdivision of Purba Medinipur district of the Indian state of West Bengal. It is located about 70 km south-west of Kolkata, on the south bank of the Haldi River, opposite the industrial city of Haldia...
and Singur
Singur
Singur is a census town in Hooghly district in the Indian state of West Bengal. Singur railway station is 34 km from Howrah Station on the Howrah-Tarakeswar line. It is 2 km ahead of Kamarkundu junction, the crossing point of Howrah-Bardhaman chord and Howrah-Tarakeshwar lines. It is on...
.
List of awards for 2007
- Best Environmental Talk the Talk Award: Ashok Punjwani
- Birds of a Feather Award: Mukesh AmbaniMukesh AmbaniMukesh Dhirubhai Ambani is an Indian business magnate. He is the chairman and managing director of Indian conglomerate Reliance Industries, the largest private sector enterprise in India listed in Fortune 500 magazine. His personal stake in Reliance Industries is 48%...
- Bureaucrat for Business Award: B.K. Chaturvedi
- Money Can Buy You Law Award: T.K.A Nair
- Best Diplomat for Welfare of Transnational Corporations: Ronen SenRonen SenRanendra "Ronen" Sen was India's ambassador to the United States of America from August 2004 to March 2009. His contribution landmark US India Nuclear deal is considered of immense importance -Career:...
- The World is a Business Award: P. ChidambaramP. ChidambaramP. Chidambaram or Chidambaram Palaniappan, sometimes written Palaniappan Chidambaram is an Indian politician with the Indian National Congress and present Union Minister of Home Affairs of the Republic of India. Previously he was the Finance Minister of India from May 2004 to November 2008...
- Best Use of an Inside-Outside Strategy: Abhishek Manu SinghviAbhishek Manu SinghviAbhishek Manu Singhvi is an Indian politician belonging to Indian National Congress party and is presently a Member of the Parliament of India representing Rajasthan in the Rajya Sabha, the upper house of the Indian Parliament...
- Lifetime Spent Evolving Opportunities from Disasters: Babulal GaurBabulal GaurBabulal Gaur is a current cabinet minister in BJP ministry of Madhya Pradesh and a former Chief Minister of Madhya Pradesh, India. He was born in a Yadav family in a village in Uttar Pradesh. He served as chief minister from August 23 2004 following the resignation of Uma Bharti...
- Extraordinary Contributions to the Progress of International Capital: Kamal NathKamal NathKamal Nath is an Indian politician and the current Union Cabinet Minister of Urban Development. He is a member of the 15th Lok Sabha of India. He represents the Chhindwara constituency of Madhya Pradesh and is a member of the Indian National Congress .-Early life:Born in Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. He...
- Best Use of the Revolving Door: Montek Singh AhluwaliaMontek Singh AhluwaliaMontek Singh Ahluwalia is an Indian economist and civil servant. He is currently the Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission of the Republic of India. He was previously the first Director of the Independent Evaluation Office at the International Monetary Fund.-Early life and education:Montek...
- Best Friend of Big Business: Manmohan SinghManmohan SinghManmohan Singh is the 13th and current Prime Minister of India. He is the only Prime Minister since Jawaharlal Nehru to return to power after completing a full five-year term. A Sikh, he is the first non-Hindu to occupy the office. Singh is also the 7th Prime Minister belonging to the Indian...
- Dynastic Loyalty to the Empire: Ratan TataRatan TataRatan Naval Tata is the present chairman of Tata Sons and therefore, Tata Group. Also, he is one among the few in the world...