Excerpts from the introduction by Adhiratha Keefe, Master of Ceremonies: It is a great honour and privilege today for Sri Chinmoy to present the U Thant Peace Award to Professor Ibrahim Gambari, on behalf of the Peace Meditation at the United Nations. The Award is given in Secretary-General U Thant’s name to persons who have offered exceptional service and commitment to peace, the ultimate goal of the United Nations.
Professor Gambari is a highly distinguished United Nations Under-Secretary-General, a great statesman, a brilliant negotiator, and a devoted lover and server of Allah. He is a dear Friend and Brother of Sri Chinmoy.
We are delighted that he could be with us today to receive the U Thant Peace Award.The Peace Meditation Singers perform two songs composed by Sri Chinmoy in honour of Professor Gambari, as well as two songs with music set to Professor Gambari’s inspiring words.
Sri Chinmoy (presenting the U Thant Peace Award to Professor Gambari): With my heart’s boundless love, joy and gratitude.
Professor Gambari: I am truly overwhelmed, and I want to thank a great man, a great teacher whom I am proud to call my Friend and my Brother, Sri Chinmoy, and all of you, who are truly my brothers and sisters.
Let me explain briefly. This award was offered to me a long time ago, but I did not want to receive it before my boss, Mr. Kofi Annan, was given an opportunity to have it. This is part of the African tradition of respect for our elders.
But this is coming at a very appropriate time. First, I am one of the few Muslims, as far as I know, to be given the U Thant Peace Award, which illustrates what Sri Chinmoy has always preached: the oneness of mankind, that love and peace are common to all humanity.
Secondly, I am receiving this U Thant Award in the tenure of the second Asian Secretary-General, who has just designated me as a Special Envoy to Myanmar, the home of U Thant. And I am proud to say that when I last visited Myanmar in November, I insisted on visiting the grave of U Thant. My request was only very reluctantly granted to me by the authorities there, but I did lay a wreath, not knowing that I would a few months later receive the U Thant Peace Award.
Once again, thank you and God bless you. I am truly, truly grateful, truly. Thank you very much. (Applause.)
Sri Chinmoy (to Professor Gambari): You have fulfilled my long-cherished dream, Brother – my long-cherished dream! And I am so proud of you, that the present Secretary-General has appointed you as a Special Envoy. For that, I am so happy and so proud of you, so proud of you.
Professor Gambari: I am the only Under-Secretary-General that he has re-appointed.
Sri Chinmoy: Again, I am so proud of you, so proud of you.
Professor Gambari departs to warm applause.
Following are two songs composed by Sri Chinmoy in honour of Professor Gambari, as well as two songs with music set to Professor Gambari’s inspiring words.
Professor Ibrahim Gambari, a Nigerian scholar-diplomat, was the first Under-Secretary-General (USG) and Special Adviser to the Secretary-General (SG) on Africa (1999-2005). During this period, he was concurrently the SG’s Resident Special Representative and Head of the UN Mission to Angola (2002-2003). He also served as USG for Political Affairs (2005-2007), when he also operated as the SG’s Special Envoy on Cyprus, Zimbabwe and Myanmar. He continued to serve as USG in various capacities until 2009. Before joining the UN, he was the Permanent Representative of Nigeria to the UN (1990-1999), and Minister for Foreign Affairs (1984-1985).↩
From:Sri Chinmoy,Concern: A Reality of the Heart, Agni Press, 2025
Sourced from https://srichinmoylibrary.com/crh