Honouring Mary Robinson, Former President of Ireland and UN Commissioner for Human Rights

Sri Chinmoy opened the programme with a performance on the esraj, followed by a video showing former recipients of the award as well as some of Sri Chinmoy’s humanitarian activities. The Singers then performed several songs Sri Chinmoy had composed in the President’s honour, which deeply moved her. Excerpts from the event follow.

President Mary Robinson: Sri Chinmoy and all who are present, I’m really very humbled and indeed very uplifted by this very thoughtful ceremony this morning. Indeed, I’m afraid I was almost overcome by the beautiful singing and the choices of phrases that I was being honoured with. As President Nelson Mandela, Madiba¹ , said in the video, it is a shot in the arm.

We’ve also recently become grandparents. My husband Nick is here with me. And that is also an enormous shot in the arm. I was reminded by a friend of mine, who is also a grandmother, that it’s the best and least exclusive club in the world, which I liked very much. But somehow it renewed my commitment beyond belief.

So today is, in fact, very uplifting because the initiative that I now lead – which itself is very small but is trying to connect with others – we have also named Realising Rights. Everyone in the world should realise that they have human rights, as it says in Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, “All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights.” And I’ve always liked that “dignity” comes before “rights.” Everybody should realise they have rights, and those with power should realise those rights, meaning implement them.

I’m afraid I’m incurable. I will go on doing this, but I do feel very uplifted. Thank you so much.

Sri Chinmoy then lifted the President and her husband together.

Sri Chinmoy (introducing his student Sundar Dalton): He comes from Ireland. He made arrangements for me to meet President De Valera and President Erskine Childers.

President Robinson: Yes, both of them I knew, but I knew Erskine Childers well.

Sri Chinmoy: Today I am blessed by a third President.

President Robinson: I must tell you a funny story. I mentioned this earlier. I served my seven years as President. Then there was a contested election, and President Mary McAleese was elected. And she finished her seven years in November. She’s done a good job so nobody opposed her, and I will go to Dublin on the 11th of November for her inauguration as President for a further seven years. Now we both tell the same joke, which is that small boys in Ireland weep on their mother’s knee and say, “Why can’t I grow up to be President?” (laughter) With two women Presidents, we’re a little ahead of the United States.

President Robinson and her husband graciously accepted Sri Chinmoy’s invitation to visit the Pilgrim-Museum. President Robinson reminisced about her visit with the Dalai Lama, when he invited her to see his museum, which housed wonderful works of Tibetan culture.

She later signed the guest book thus: Dear Sri Chinmoy, I’m very honoured and humbled to have been lifted by you today. It was also a thrill that you then lifted Nick with me. As Madiba said, “It’s a shot in the arm.” May you continue your inspirational work for peace and for the oneness of the world. We need it more than ever. May all go well with you. Warm good wishes, Mary Robinson.