First in Awards and Titles
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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