The late Pundit Krishna has been nominated for Trinidad and Tobago's highest national award, the Order of Trinidad and Tobago.Pandit Krishna, who was the spiritual leader of the country's biggest Hindu group, The Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha, refused the award when it was first offered to him.
At that time the award was called the Trinity Cross and the Hindu priest objected to accepting it on the grounds that the cross was a Christian symbol.
After several years of lobbying, the Manning administration accepted the recommendation of a special committee and changed the award to better reflect the nature of the country's diversity.
Now the Sanatan Dharma Maha Sabha Board has nominated Pandit Krishna to receive the top national award posthumously in 2010 for distinguished service to Trinidad and Tobago.
Others who have been nominated include former cabinet minister Kamaluddin Mohammed, one of the country's most respected politicians and cultural icons. He was one of the founders of the People's National Movement (PNM) and served in several positions in the Williams administrations.
He left the PNM and joined the United National Congress (UNC) during the Panday administration and served as CARICOM ambassador. He had been nominated for the award before but the application had been rejected.
Another nominee is British nation, Professor John Uff who chaired the Commission of Inquiry into UDeCOTT and the construction sector. Reports say the other three commissioners - Israel B. Khan SC, Kenneth Sirju and Desmond Thornhill - have also been nominated for the top award.
Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar has the final say on who gets the prestigious award.
President Richards will present the 2010 national awards at a special ceremony on Independence Day at Queen’s Hall.
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