EFICOR award presented to Dr Ken Gnanakan

One of India's well-known theologian and educator, Dr Ken Gnanakan was last month presented with EFICOR's Jim Elliot Andrew Memorial Award 2009-2012.

Gnanakan, Founder President, ACTS Group of Institutions, Bangalore was conferred with the award in recognition of his outstanding contribution in "promoting the practice and reflection of wholistic mission in India and abroad".

"EFICOR promotes issues of justice among churches and this award is in recognition of people who have done meritorious work in issues of justice," said Rev Kennedy Dhanabalan, Executive Director, EFICOR.

Dr Gnanakan, who is also the President of International Council for Higher Education in Switzerland, has several achievements to his credit. In addition to being an accomplished educator and theologian, he is also a passionate environmentalist who supposedly pioneered the use of waste plastics for road surfacing in India.

EFICOR describes Gnanakan as a man who "believes in bringing Work, Worship and Witness together in Christian life and has been passionately involved in making it a powerful source of transformation". He also combines action with awareness introducing several environmentally friendly projects.

At present, Gnanakan is engaged in developing a wholistic model of socio-economic development starting with the collection of urban waste. The model includes the generation of cooking gas as well as electricity.

Following his doctoral studies at King's College London, Gnanakan returned to India to set up the ACTS Institute, a vocational training school, which also imparts practical skills and spiritual values to young people. ACTS is an acronym for Agriculture, Crafts, Trades and Studies.

The Jim Elliot Award handed over to Dr Gnanakan carries a citation and a cheque of Rs one lakh. The award was created in remembrance of Jim Elliot Andrew, staff of EFICOR who died at a young age of 26 years while working among the Maltos of Bihar in 1984.