Singh established the Gandhi Peace Festival in 1994. Two years later, with the participation of the McMaster University's Peace Center, he started the annual Gandhi Peace Lecture.
In 2002, he started the Mahila Sangh Movement to educate rural women in India about their rights. The movement started from Bihar, and Singh--along with several academicians, students and volunteers--has traveled to various parts of rural India since then.
Joan Browning, chairperson, 2010 World Citizenship Award, said the honour recognizes the 'extraordinary contribution Singh made to the cause of peace, nonviolence and international solidarity for more than three decades.'
"I feel very good about it," Singh said. "The Gandhi Peace festival has become part of Hamilton's cultural landscape. Each year, the mayor welcomes the crowd on Gandhi's birthday and hundreds of people carrying banners, placards, etc walk the city streets. We have done everything possible for the festival to be deemed a celebration of non-violence, peace, social justice We have made efforts to include people from all backgrounds in our programs."
Singh has introduced the Gandhi-Martin Luther King community forum, which will host monthly meetings and forums. "Our mission is transformation of culture, promotion of peace, non-violence and social justice," he said. "Poverty in Hamilton is a big issue. There's also the question of accreditation of internationally-qualified professionals. Many of them are poor as they are unable to work in their respective professions We want to deal with local, regional and national issues."
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