First in Awards and Titles
First Miss World Reita Faria in 1966
First Miss Universe Susmita Sen in 1994
First Booker Prize Arundhati Roy for The God of Small Things in 1997
First Bharat Ratna
Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishan, C. Rajagopalachari, and Dr. C.V. Raman in 1954 First Foreigner to receive Bharat Ratna Khan Abdul Ghaffar
First Person to receive Stalin Prize Saifuddin Kitchlu
First Chevalier Sivaji Ganesan First Person to receive Jnapith Award Shri Shankar Kurup
First Dadasaheb Phalke Award Devika Rani in 1969
First Ashoka Chakra Award to a civilian (posthumous)
D.K. Jatar, captain of the sabotaged plane Kashmir Princess, for “most conspicuous bravery, daring and self-sacrifice.” First Magsaysay Award Vinoba Bhave
First Winner of a major literary award in the United States
Dhan Gopal Mukerji
First Ford Supermodel of the World(contest)
Bipasha Basu, 1996
First Indian recipient of ‘Oscar Award’ Bhanu Athaiya