by Marilla Mulwane

Created on: October 02, 2010

The Nobel prizes are awarded each year to the best in many categories. One of the most important categories is the Nobel Peace Prize for outstanding work in bringing peace between nations. This year, 2010, there are 237 Nobel Peace Prize nominees. The Nobel committee doesn't announce nominees, until 50 years later, but sometimes nominees get out. One of them is SUNY Oneonta Philosophy professor Dr. Ashok Malhotra. He is nominated because of his Ninash Foundation.

Dr. Malhotra created the Ninash Foundation in memory of his wife, Nina, who loved India and the children. She traveled to India, helped bring the people of India to the U.S. and helped them start new lives. She wanted to teach the children of India. One way she did this was to start a semester abroad for students so that they could go to India and help teach the children.

When Nina passed away, a victim of cancer, Dr. Malhotra formed the Ninash Foundation and continued his wife's work and love. The foundation began in 1996, and that was when Malhotra built his first school in Dundlod. It was just a one-room building. He has since built more schools, brought in technology, and expanded with the help of donations and benefactors. Through the Ninash Foundation, students have gone to India to help build the school, and have been sent there to teach as well. It is the Ninash Foundation's goal to build one school every year.

Dr. Malhotra was nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize by the International Society for the Comparative Study of Civilization(ISCSC). Although he has plenty of competition, 237 nominees, Malhotra has become a local hero for the students who know him and take his classes in small SUNY Oneonta.

It is because of Malhotra that SUNY Oneonta has a philosophy department. He arrived in Oneonta is 1967, and established the department and the study abroad program in India. Malhotra grew up in India, and was lucky enough to be sent to school. He was one of 11 children raised by illiterate parents. He worked hard, got his Masters degree, paid his own way, and moved to Oneonta, NY. Many students might recall stories Malhotra told in class about walking up the hill to the campus every day, even in coldest winter, because he couldn't afford a car. Malhotra knows what it is like for children in India, and that is why the Ninash Foundation is so passionate about what the children need.

Now, all this hard work has more than paid off. Even if the Ninash Foundation doesn't see any of the prize money from the Nobel Peace Prize nomination, Malhotra's work is becoming known because of it and will still benefit. The Ninash Foundation believes strongly that educating children will help bring peace.

The Nobel Peace Prize will be awarded October 8, 2010. Cross your fingers for the Ninash Foundaton and Dr. Ashok Malhotra.

To donate to the Ninash Foundation or to learn other ways you can help: Ninash Foundation Official Website

Sources:

Ninash Foundation - Origin, Ninash Foundation

Ninash Foundation – Indo-international Schools, Ninash Foundation

2010 Nobel Prize Announcements, Nobelprize.org

Boshnack, Mark. Local professor nominated for Nobel for battle against poverty, illiteracy, thedailystar.com

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