Social activist Sandeep Pandey has decided to return the prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award, bestowed upon him in 2002, as a mark of protest against the “role of the US in blatantly supporting Israel” in the assault on Gaza.

Pandey, associated with the Socialist Party (India), pointed to the Magsaysay Award’s association with American foundations. The award is funded primarily by the Rockefeller Brothers Fund.

Pandey, who had received the Magsaysay Award in the emergent leadership category, has also chosen to return his dual Master of Science degrees earned from US universities.

Pandey, who runs the Asha Trust which imparts free education to children in many districts of Uttar Pradesh and who also campaigns for peace and disarmament across the world, said in a statement: “The Magsaysay Award is primarily funded by Rockefeller Foundation and the category in which I received the award is funded by the Ford Foundation, both American foundations.

“Given the role of the US in blatantly supporting Israel in the current offensive against Palestinian citizens, more than 21,500 of whom are dead, and still continuing to sell arms to Israel, it has become unbearable for me to keep the award.

“I, therefore, am deciding to finally return the award too. I would like to apologise to the people of the Phillippines if they feel hurt because of President Ramon Magsaysay’s name associated with this award. My protest is only because of the American connection with the award.”

He added in the statement: “As I return the Magsaysay Award, I also feel that I should relieve myself of the degrees I have obtained in the US. Hence, I am also taking a decision to return my dual MS degrees in Manufacturing and Computer Engineering to Syracuse University in upstate New York and my PhD in Mechanical Engineering degree to the University of California at Berkeley.”

“I think the US is one country which respects human rights the most and offers the best freedom of expression, but sadly it is true only within the country,” Pandey stated. “Outside the US, it seems to have little regard for human rights, especially of the third world countries. If it respects justice then it should stand with the side facing oppression in any war....”

The statement added: “I have to take the hard decision because I think the US is singularly responsible in encouraging Israel to continue its aggression against Palestinians contrary to the popular world opinion. It could have played the role of mediator, like it once did, and tried to negotiate peace between Israel and Palestine....”

Pandey said he had returned the money that he had received with the citation in 2002 itself after there was a controversy over him participating in a protest outside the US embassy in Manila against the impending attack on Iraq, “immediately a day after the award ceremony in which the award was handed over by the Phillippines President”.