Mata Amritanandamayi Devi, affectionately known as Amma, has been honored with the prestigious 2023 World Leader for Peace and Security Award by the Boston Global Forum (BGF) and the Michael Dukakis Institute for Leadership and Innovation (MDI). This distinguished accolade recognizes Amma’s outstanding contributions to global peace, spirituality, and compassion.

According to the BGF and MDI, Amma’s deep spirituality, unwavering commitment to core values, and influential global leadership make her a deserving recipient of this esteemed award. Her profound dedication to traditional wisdom and spiritual principles resonates with the ideals of global unity and compassion. As the Chair of the Civil 20 Engagement Group, which brought together G20 civil society leaders during the 2023 G20 Summit in India, Amma embodied the G20’s motto, ‘You are the Light.’ Her daily efforts to nurture global unity, compassion, well-being, and a fair and sustainable world are truly exceptional. Amma’s selflessness and commitment to justice and sustainability are instrumental in shaping a more enlightened and compassionate world.

Former Governor of Massachusetts, Michael Dukakis, Chairman of the Boston Global Forum, expressed his deep admiration, saying, “We are profoundly honored to acknowledge Amma as a World Leader for Peace and Security. Her tireless endeavors to promote love, compassion, and global unity are truly exemplary. Amma’s legacy will continue to inspire our collective journey toward a more harmonious world, in perfect alignment with the AIWS initiative.”

The announcement of Amma receiving this prestigious award was made on July 31 at the C20 Summit in Jaipur, India.
Amma now joins a distinguished list of past recipients of the World Leader for Peace and Security Award, which includes prominent figures such as Ursula Von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan, Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany, United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, and President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen, among others.