Krishna Vavilala Gets ‘MLK Grande Award’

Krishna Vavilala Gets ‘MLK Grande Award’: Indian- American Krishna Vavilala has been honoured with the Martin Luther King (MLK) Jr. Grande Parade Special Award for his contributions to connecting the Indian Diaspora with the mainstream America. The award consisting of a trophy and a plaque was presented to him by the Chairman and CEO of Martin Luther King Jr. Parade Foundation Charles Stamp during the 29th MLK Jr. Grand Parade on 16 January 2023 held in Midtown, Houston.

Krishna Vavilala Gets ‘MLK Grande Award’: Key Points

• Krishna Vavilala is a longtime Houstonian and the founder and chairman of the Foundation of India Studies (FIS) and led several MLK Grande Parades in the past.
• Grande Parades, dressed as Mahatma Gandhi with the main aim of bringing the Indian community closer to the Black community, based on the principle of non-violence, the principle which both Mahatma Gandhi and Martin Luther King Jr. had followed.
• Vavilala, originally from Andhra Pradesh is a BITS Pilani alumni and is a retired Electrical Engineer and now a native American citizen settled in Houston.
• The award was given to him by the CEO and Chairman of MLK Jr. Parade Foundation Charles Stamp.
• Charles spoke highly of Vavilala and appreciated his dedication to spreading the message of both Mahatma Gandhi and MLK Jr.
• The 17-year-old organisation has routinely participated in MLK parades for 12 years and also won the parade’s Grand Marshall Award in 2015.

Read Also: ‘Naanera’ Wins ‘Golden Kailasha’ award at the 8th Ajanta-Ellora Film Festival

About Martin Luther King Jr.

• Martin Luther King Jr. was born on January 15, 1929, in Atlanta, Georgia (USA)
• He was an American Baptist minister and activist, one of the most prominent leaders in the civil rights movement.
• Martin Luther King Jr. had established a historic link between India and America, by adopting Mahatma Gandhi’s philosophy of non-violence in his civil rights movement.
• He was honoured with the Nobel Peace Prize on 14 October 1964 for eliminating racial inequality through non-violence.
• He died on 4 April 1968.
• Every year, the people of USA celebrates Martin Luther King Jr. Day on the third week of January which is close to King’s actual birthday on January 15.