President Barack Obama today conferred the prestigious 'Presidential Medal of Freedom', America's highest civilian award, on British scientist Stephen Hawking along with 15 others including Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus of Bangladesh and South Africa's anti-apartheid activist Desmond Tutu.
In addition to scientific research, Hawking has written three popular science books, including the bestseller 'A Brief History of Time'. He was awarded the Medal of Freedom in recognition of these popular science publications and for making his research accessible to all members of the public.
Yunus, who won the Nobel peace prize in 2006 for his role in poverty alleviation through micro-finance scheme in Bangladesh, has been honoured for altering the face of finance and entrepreneurship.
Tutu, a former Archbishop and leading anti-apartheid activist in South Africa, was chosen for giving voice to the voiceless and bringing hope to those who thirst for freedom.
"This is a chance for me — and for the United States of America — to say thank you to some of the finest citizens of this country, and of all countries," Obama said while presenting them the Presidential Medal of Freedom at the White House.Lauding the spirit of all the recipients, Obama said they did not set out in pursuit of glory or fame or riches.
"Rather, they set out, guided by passion, committed to hard work, aided by persistence, often with few advantages but the gifts, grace, and good name God gave them".
Praising Muhammad Yunus, Obama said 35-years ago he as a young economics professor at a university in Bangladesh was struck by the disconnect between the theories he was teaching in class and the reality of the famine outside.
"Mohammed Yunus left the classroom for a village, and discovered that just 27 dollar would free dozens of artisans, vendors, and rickshaw pullers from debt," Obama said.
Offering himself as a guarantor, he withdrew a loan, paid off their debts, and founded Grameen Bank — a bank that has disbursed over $8 billion, lifting millions of people from poverty with microloans.
"Mohammed Yunus was just trying to help a village, but he somehow managed to change the world," Obama said.
The signature quality of Archbishop Desmond Tutu, says Nelson Mandela, is a readiness to take unpopular stands without fear, Obama observed.
"Perhaps that explains what led the Arch, as he's known, to preach amid tear gas and police dogs, rallying a people against apartheid," he said. Obama also praised Tutu's role as Chairman of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission in South Africa after its independence.
"Tribune of the downtrodden, voice of the oppressed, cantor of our conscience, Desmond Tutu possesses that sense of generosity, that spirit of unity, that essence of humanity that South Africans know simply as Ubuntu," Obama said.
Among other awardees were breast cancer crusader Nancy Goodman Brinker, medical campaigner Pedro Jose Greer, tennis legend Billie Jean King, civil rights leader Reverend Joseph Lowery, native American tribal chief Joseph Medicine Crow, former Supreme Court Justice Sandra Day O'Connor, actress Chita Rivera, and cancer researcher Janet Davison Rowley. Obama also awarded posthumous medals to former Republican congressman and vice presidential candidate Jack Kemp and gay rights campaigner Harvey Milk.
