Thailand’s Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn was presented with the first ‘World Sanskrit Award’ for her exemplary contribution for the promotion of the language for the year 2015.
About Maha Chakri Sirindhorn
- She is noted educator and scholar of Sanskrit and Pali.
- She has been awarded with several awards and Honorary Doctorates including Honorary Degree of Doctor of Literature (Sanskrit) from Delhi University in 1987
- She also won Indira Gandhi Prize for Peace, Disarmament and Development Award from the Union Government in 2004; and Magsaysay Award for Public Service in 1991.
- She was also the Royal Patron of the 16th World Sanskrit Conference which was held in Bangkok in 2015.
About World Sanskrit Award
- The award was instituted by the Indian Council for Cultural Relations (ICCR).
- It was announced by the Union External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj during her inaugural address in the 16th World Sanskrit Conference in Bangkok in June 2015.
- It is presented to eminent Sanskrit scholars to recognise their outstanding contribution to the study/research/ teaching in Sanskrit language and literature.