Two Indians, Sonam Wangchuck and Bharat Vatwani, are among the six recipients of the Ramon Magsaysay Award, 2018, the Asian equivalent of the Nobel prize.
Sonam, a Ladakhi engineer, innovator, education reformist and the inspiration behind Phunsuk Wangdu the lead character of the movie ‘3 Idiots’, has been recognised for his contribution in harnessing nature, culture and educational reforms.
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Bharat, a psychologist, will be awarded for leading the rescue of thousands of street people with mental disabilities to treat and reuniting them with their families.
Magsaysay award was established in 1957 with to reward individuals and organizations from Asia for their altruistic and philanthropic service. The award ceremony will take place in Manila, Philippines on August 31 in memory of the Philippines President.
Other recipients of the award are Youk Chang of Cambodia, who helped document the Khmer Rouge atrocities Maria de Lourdes Cruz of East Timor, built a care center for poor amid civil strife and Vo Thi Hoang of Vietnam, who despite suffering from polio, fought discrimination against the disabled.
Other Indians who have received this award are Delhi’s chief minister, Arvind Kejriwal in 2006 for his emergent leadership, Acharya Vinod Bhave, the first Indian to receive this award, for his outstanding community leadership in 1958. Mother Teresa became the first Indian woman to receive this award. Kiran Bedi received this award in 1994 for excellence in Government Services.