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
1. Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishan,
2. C. Rajagopalachari, and
3. 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