US Embassy honours Indira Gandhi

THE United States Embassy of Malaysia nominated pining mother M Indira Gandhi for the US International Women of Courage Award this year.

In a reception to honour Indira, the embassy said the sacrifice and suffering of Indira to get her youngest daughter back is worth recognising.

In 2009, Indira lost her then nine month old baby daughter Prasana Diksa, when her ex-husband K. Pathmanathan @ Muhammad Riduan Abdullah kidnapped her on the pretext of converting the child.

Ever since then, Indira Ghandi has exhausted all legal avenues to get her youngest daughter Prasana back but to no avail, as authorities claim they do not know whereabouts of the father.

Even though the courts ruled in favour of the mother last January, the father had continued to disobey the court's order to return Prasana to Indira.

At the reception, a nervous Indira stated that she holds no grudges against Islam and Muslims, and believes that the whole saga has nothing to do with religion.

"I only want to get Prasana back - it has taken almost 10 years and eventually I did win. Every day, I am hoping that I will get news of Prasana. Even though I won the case, Prasana is still not reunited with me and I hope the police would do their job of bringing her back to me.

"It has nothing to do with religion. I am willing to accept Prasana for what she is now but I want to see my daughter. I have not met her for nine years," said Indira, thanking the media and those who supported her throughout her ordeal.

Also present were Indira's two other children Tevi Darsiny, 21 and Karan Dinish, 19, and her mother, S Rangammah.

US Ambassador to Malaysia Kamala Shirin Lakhdhir said that Indira was nominated among the women of courage worldwide as Indira continues to be outspoken for a multilateral society despite her terrible ordeal.

"Before I came to Malaysia, I knew about Indira's struggle, and what her family has gone through. Indira Gandhi's story is one family's story, children missing the sibling, and her mother missing the granddaughter.

This is the struggle of one family, but there is a lot of meaning for Malaysia and Malaysia's future.

"I very much appreciate that Indira during her struggle has continued to support a multi-ethnic, multi-religious Malaysia and supported the diversity of Malaysia. She is seeking something for her own family, but also seeking something for Malaysia as a country," said Lakhdhir.

Former president of the Malaysian Bar and human rights lawyer, Ambiga Sreenevasan and transgender rights activist, Nisha Ayub were previous recipients of the much coveted US International Women of Courage Award.

Ten recipients worldwide were awarded the award last week.

Malaysia, however, did not make the list this year.