2 Indians win Magsaysay Award

Two Indians – whistleblower forest officer Sanjiv Chaturvedi and founder of NGO Goonj Anshu Gupta – were on Wednesday selected for this year’s prestigious Ramon Magsaysay Award for being "unafraid to take on large causes".

While Chaturvedi, 40, was removed from the post of chief vigilance commissioner at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, last year for his fight against corruption, 42-year-old Gupta is credited for making clothing an issue to be addressed.

Chaturvedi, who had also exposed corruption in the previous Bhupinder Hooda-led government in Haryana besides his brave act in AIIMS, was recognised for the award under the ‘Emergent Leadership’ category for his "exemplary integrity, courage and tenacity in uncompromisingly exposing and painstakingly investigating corruption in public office, and his resolute crafting of program and system improvements to ensure that government honourably serves the people of India". Chaturvedi’s fight with both the Haryana government and the current NDA government at the Centre finds mention in the citation.

Gupta, a former freelance journalist who later quit corporate job to set up Goonj, was recognised for his "creative vision in transforming the culture of giving in India, his enterprising leadership in treating cloth as a sustainable development resource for the poor, and in reminding the world that true giving always respects and preserves human dignity."

"For Gupta, extreme poverty is actually a continuing human disaster; hence, giving must have no season," the citation said. Kommaly Chanthavong from Laos, Ligaya Fernando-Amilbangsa from the Philippines and Kyaw Thu from Myanmar also share the award with the two Indians this year.

"There is one thing this year’s Magsaysay laureates all share in common: a greatness of spirit that infuses their crusade for change. All are unafraid to take on large causes. All have refused to give up, despite meagre resources, daunting adversity and strong opposition," Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation President Carmencita Abella said.

Among Indians who have won the award named after late Philippine president Ramon Magsaysay, are activists like Aruna Roy, Anna Hazare, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and former IPS officer Kiran Bedi.