The founder/directors of two programs which Amistad International assists have been given awards as Unsung Heroes of Compassion from the Wisdom in Action Foundation in San Francisco, California, April 26, 2009.
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama presented awards to Rajan Kaur of Varanasi, India who is the founder/director of Buddha’s Smile School; and Urmi Basu, the founder/director of New Light in Kolkata, India. Rajan and Urmi and 47 other honorees were the guests at a reception of 600 who came to pay them their respects. These Unsung Heroes were selected because “they have set the course of their hearts toward truth and love. In doing so, they have become beacons, lanterns, mentors, inspirations and exemplars for us all. ”
The Dalai Lama gently, and with a spark of humor, reminded everyone that like the 49 awardees, we too can do something for the world. We need not see the results in our own lifetime: we do good simply because it is the right thing to do.
Since returning to India, Rajan tells us she has never felt more peaceful. She feels that she has even more strength and energy to teach and inspire her students.