CCS Azadi Awards presented to impactful media stories on personal freedom

PITAMPURA, India - Jan. 10, 2014 - PRLog -- Centre for Civil Society’s Azadi Awards presented at New Delhi

3 “Special Mentions” for Hindi Writing showcasing impactful

media writing on free markets and free minds in India

CCS,apublic policy think tank advancing personal, social, economic and political freedoms, presented the Azadi Awards at a glittering ceremony in New Delhi. CCS Azadi Awards aims to usher in an intellectual revolution through impactful media stories on personal freedom, free markets and free mind

Azadi Awards felicitated  Jagdish Panwar for 'talibanon ke khilaf malala', Atul Chaurasia for 'Gram Guru' and Anil Pandey for 'Gumshudgi ke andhere'.These articles were recognized as “Special Mentions” and awarded Rs. 20,000 each.

On the 62nd anniversary of India’s Independence, the dream of a free society led CCS to launch www.azadi.me, India’s first liberal portal in Hindi, bringing the best in liberal thinking to one of the world's largest audiences, more than half a billion of Hindibhashi. We believe that after her political independence from an alien state, India still awaits her civil independence. Political independence is a first step, albeit a very important one, on the path to Swaraj (self-government/self-governance) but much needs to be done to lead us on the path of Azadi or Swatantrata. We must achieve azadi across all three dimensions of personal, political and economic freedoms.

The role of the media is enormous in waging this war of ideas. We see increasing number of instances where the stories broken by media houses are the force that have commanded and delivered an immediate response action by the government.

Styled along the lines of the critically acclaimed Bastiat Award for Journalism, the Azadi Awards are the first of its kind of initiative that recognises, applauds and celebrates impactful media stories advancing free markets and free minds in India.

These awards are given out to journalists working in the Hindi media who have been successful in spreading liberal ideas in India through their work, be it in print, television or radio. It celebrates those media personnel whose writing emulates the importance of freedom and the dangers of restricting freedom.

About Centre for Civil Society (CCS)

Centre for Civil Society (CCS) is a public policy think tank advancing personal, social, economic and political freedoms. CCS aims to usher in an intellectual revolution that encourages people to look beyond the obvious, think beyond good intentions and act beyond activism.

The 2012 Global Go To Think Tanks Rankings based on a study conducted by the Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania ranks CCS 51st amongst Worldwide (US and non-US) think tanks, the only Indian think tank to feature in the top 100 on the list. CCS also ranks 15th among the top 45 Think Tanks in China, India, Japan, and the Republic of Korea. The Think Tanks and Civil Societies Program at the University of Pennsylvania annually ranks think tanks around the world through an intensive process of nominations, and expert and peer institution feedback on the output, impact and influence of global think tanks. Centre for Civil Society (CCS) for a fourth year in a row continues to feature among the top think tanks in the world according to this comprehensive study of 6,603 think tanks from every region.

CCS believes in the individuality and dignity of all persons and their right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. CCS is driven by the dream of a free society, where political, social, and economic freedom reign.

CCS' activities include research, advocacy and outreach in the areas of Law, Liberty & Livelihood; Communities, Markets & the Environment; Good Governance and Education for All. Through evidence-based research, stakeholder engagement and outreach to current and future leaders, CCS advocate for effective public policy reforms.

CCS initiatives in the above areas include publishing its views and research findings in the form of citizen handbooks, viewpoints, policy reviews, legislative analyses and summaries of lectures given at seminars by expert faculty; creating discussion platforms and hosting conferences to facilitate peer interaction amongst researchers and key stakeholders in the policy space.