Angela Merkel chosen for Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 2009

German Chancellor Angela Merkel was on 9 May 2011 was chosen for the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 2009 for her enormous efforts toward sustainable and equitable development. The External Affairs Ministry release revealed that that the jury chaired by Vice-President Mohammad Hamid Ansari, has decided to confer the award for 2009 on Dr. Merkel.

The German leader, Merkel is known for her efforts for good governance and understanding and for the creation of a world better positioned to handle the emerging challenges of the 21st century. She has been sympathetic to developing countries and led the search for a balanced solution based on principles of equity and sensitivity to the interests of the developing world.
Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding founded in 1965 is an international award presented by the Government of India. The award is administered by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR) to people for their outstanding contribution to the promotion of international understanding, goodwill and friendship among people of the world. The award carries prize money of Rs.1 crore besides a trophy and citation.

Olafur Ragnar Grimsson was the winner of Jawaharlal Nehru Award for International Understanding for 2007.

Martin Luther King, Jr., Khan Abdul Gaffar Khan, Mother Teresa, Kenneth Kaunda, Aung San Suu Kyi, Hosni Mubarak, Josip Broz Tito and Nelson Mandela are some of past recipients of the award.