Salesian Wins International Human Rights Award

Salesian Wins International Human Rights Award

by Fr. Bastin Nellissery, SDB

(ANS – Delhi, India – December 12, 2022) – The 12th International Human Rights Award was conferred on Salesian priest Fr. C.M. Paul (photo, 2d from left) for his contribution to peace with media reforms. The award was given by the All India Council of Human Rights, Delhi, at the Lodhi Road Islamic Centre Auditorium on International Human Rights Day, December 10. Accepting the award for his contribution to peace with the media ministry, Fr. Paul said, “This award is for all those who suffer injustice and human rights violation silently.” Speaking at the panel discussion before the award function, he said: “If you have been a victim of human rights violation and injustice, only then can you be a voice for the voiceless. Let us pledge to protect human rights in our neighborhood, society, and country.” Fr. Paul, from the Salesians’ Calcutta Province, currently works as vice principal at Salesian College, Siliguri.

Fr. Paul is also a recipient of the John Barrett Best Report Award from the Indian Catholic Press Association in 2008, the Ambassador of Jesus Award Calcutta for outstanding Media Priest in 2006, and the Media at the Service of the Gospel Award from International Catholic Film Festival, Warsaw, in 2010. A Kerala-born missionary priest, Fr. Paul is the founder-director of the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication at Assam Don Bosco University, Guwahati, and Salesian College, Sonada. He is also the founder-director of Radio Salesian 90.8 FM in 2016 and Salesian TV (YouTube) in 2018 at Salesian College, Darjeeling. Fr. Paul completed his Master’s Degree in Journalism and Mass Communication from Fordham University in New York; during his student years in the late 1980s, he resided with the provincial residence community in New Rochelle. He then became the first non-Italian director of the Don Bosco News Agency in Rome. He has served as a member of the Central Board of Film Certification, Govt of India, Information & Broadcasting Ministry from 2006 to 2008, and also is the founder-director of the first two Mother Teresa International Film Festivals held in Kolkata (Calcutta).

Source: Don Bosco India - Don Bosco South Asia