A NOBEL PRIZE FOR EUROPEAN UNION

It appears that choosing any particular person for awarding Nobel peace Prize without controversy  is getting increasingly difficult. Unlike other Nobel prizes it is difficult to choose a person for the prize agreed by all. Mahatma Gandhi who espoused non-violence against violence and generally considered most eligible for peace prize did not get the Peace prize though he was shortlisted a number of times and the speculation is that the selection committee feared the displeasure of Britain in awarding prize to Gandhi whose entire life was spent to fight against British rule in India. The persons like Martin Luther King or Mahathma Gandhi are seldom found for easy pick and generally to select an individual who has significantly contributed to world peace is actually difficult task unlike the Nobel prizes for scientific achievements.

 The Nobel Prize for peace is usually given to a person who worked for the promotion of peace. Since it has wider ambit of meaning the prize has, more often than not, gone in to undeserving hands than to the deserved ones on grounds best known to the selection committee. A recent example: Even before President Obama got settled in White House he was awarded Nobel Prize for peace solely on the strength of his promises made in the election campaign speeches and he himself was taken aback  on his choice for the prize.

The choice of European Union for the Prize this year however was an excellent decision. The prize sends a message to all nations in the world to emulate the way 27 nations in Europe living in peaceful co-existence minimizing restrictions and extending help for the needy nation among themselves. It has survived the predictions of skeptics that the Union would not remain long and is now beyond that doubt with common currency for 17 of its member-nations. Though the European Union  Member nations have their own problems and small quarrels each other it does not diminish  the glory of European Union. 

The E U proves that language, culture, customs or financial inequality is no barrier for uniting nations and that peaceful co-existence is the positive way for development other than selfish bargaining and perennial conflicts with neighbor nations as was the scenario in last century in Europe.

All nations, including India, has to learn something from the European Union.

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