Date: Mar 20, 2008

Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize winner to be announced at Hofstra on March 24

First recipient of Hofstra's international prize for inter-religious dialogue

Hofstra University, Hempstead, NY – The first winner of the international Guru Nanak Interfaith Prize will be announced at a news conference at Hofstra on Monday, March 24 at 10:30 a.m. in the Hofstra University Club, Mack Hall, North Campus.

The $50,000 prize, to be awarded every other year, was established through a 2006 endowment from the family of Ishar Singh Bindra to be given by Hofstra University to individuals or organizations that have worked to facilitate the religious dialogue that is indispensable to reducing religious conflict. The prize was named for the founder of the Sikh religion and was meant to encourage understanding of various religions and to build bridges between faith communities. Guru Nanak believed that all humans were born equal regardless of skin color, ethnicity, nationality and gender.

There were 75 individuals and groups nominated for the first prize, representing interfaith efforts in Africa, Asia, Europe and the Middle East, as well as throughout the United States and Canada.

The establishment of the prize in 2006 followed the creation of Hofstra’s Department of Religion in 2005 and the endowment of chairs in Sikh, Catholic and Jewish studies. The Sikh chair – the Sardarni Kuljit Kaur Bindra Chair in Sikh Studies, named for the family matriarch – was also established through an endowment from Mr. Bindra’s family. Both gifts are intended to increase understanding of different religions, including Sikhism, a world religion with over 20 million adherents.

Hofstra University is a dynamic private institution where students can choose from about 145 undergraduate and 155 graduate programs in liberal arts and sciences, business, communication, education and allied human services, and honors studies, as well as a School of Law. With a student-faculty ratio of 14-to-1, our professors teach small classes averaging 22 students that emphasize interaction, critical thinking and analysis. Hofstra offers a faculty whose highest priority is teaching excellence, cutting edge technology, extensive library resources, internships and special educational programs that appeal to their interests and abilities.  The Hofstra community is driven, dynamic and energetic, helping students find and focus their strengths to prepare them for a successful future.