Mahatma Gandhi, Peace Award - 2025

Biography

Tarık Günersel, born in Istanbul in 1953, is one of the most significant figures in the international cultural and civil landscape. A poet, playwright, actor, essayist, aphorist, librettist, translator, and activist, self-described as a Poet, Volunteer for Earth Civilization, he has embodied a vision of art as an ethical and political act aimed at promoting peace, justice, human rights, and coexistence among peoples. He holds a degree in English Literature and worked for many years at the Istanbul Metropolitan Theatre as a playwright, actor, and director. His literary production is vast and multifaceted: he writes in both Turkish and English, and has translated into Turkish works by authors such as Gramsci, Shakespeare, Beckett, and Havel.

A versatile and visionary author, Günersel has crossed and reimagined literary genres, ranging from poetry to theatre, from philosophical essays to songs, with an original voice consistently oriented toward civic engagement. His writing has been described as “political poetry” in its highest sense—art that questions, mobilizes, and raises awareness. His works, which merge pathos and reason, lyricism and irony, represent modern forms of Socratic dialogue, capable of blending drama and tenderness, critique and hope.

Since the 1970s, he has been recognized internationally for his contributions to culture and peacebuilding. He was one of the initiators of World Poetry Day, proposed to UNESCO in 1997, and has held prominent roles within PEN International, serving as President of PEN Centre Türkiye and as a board member. Within this framework, he stood out for his humble leadership, his spirit of dialogue, and his ability to amplify the most silent voices, offering inclusive spaces for exchange and growth.

In 2013, he founded the Earth Civilization Network, a global initiative promoting solidarity among peoples through the concept of Earthmates, citizens of the world united by a shared vision of justice, respect, empathy, and freedom. Within this context, he also launched the Earthmates’ Magazine, creating spaces for artistic exchange, reflection, and cultural activism. He is an active member of organizations such as the Advisory Committee of PEN Writers for Peace, Global Peace Let’s Talk, and RRM3, and serves as an ambassador for the World Institute for Peace in Nigeria.

He has promoted musical and theatrical projects against war and terrorism, including songs dedicated to children who are victims of conflict, and has participated in festivals and cultural events across the world. His writings convey a profound vision of peace as an integral harmony among human beings, nature, and society, grounded in dignity, attentive listening, and education in critical thinking.

Winner of numerous international awards, including the First Prize for Foreign Authors at the 2023 Lucius Annaeus Seneca International Prize, Günersel has been described by fellow artists and international intellectuals as a “Renaissance man” and a “great magician of art.” His work serves as a bridge between cultures, generations, and languages, and continues to inspire those who believe that culture is the true architecture of freedom and planetary civilization.

Motivation

In recognition of his tireless dedication to the promotion of peace, justice, and dialogue among cultures and civilizations, in full alignment with the principles of non-violence and ethical responsibility rooted in Gandhian thought, the Mahatma Gandhi Award is conferred upon Dr. Tarık Günersel, one of the most authoritative voices in contemporary cultural and humanitarian activism.

For having consistently embodied a vision of peace that goes far beyond the mere absence of war, grounded in empathy, attentive listening, and human dignity, and for having transcended the boundaries of art through his work, transforming it into a tool of collective awareness, intercultural dialogue, and social change

For having given voice to a planetary vision of coexistence founded on justice, solidarity, and mutual respect, and for actively promoting the construction of a global citizenship aimed at overcoming ethnic, religious, and cultural barriers. His work, through education, poetry, and activism, has stood as a model of cultural and civic engagement in service of humanity.

In the spirit of Gandhi’s teachings, Tarık Günersel reminds us that peace is not an abstract utopia, but a daily practice, made of courageous choices, dialogue, and farsighted vision. His life’s work represents a living legacy of thought and action, a beacon for future generations, and a concrete testimony of how, through both words and deeds, we can become builders of a more just, harmonious, and humane world.