Who was the first Indian to receive the U Thant Award for cultural understanding, an international honour named after the former Secretary General of the United Nations?

Introduction / Context:
This question relates to an international recognition, the U Thant Award, which honours individuals and organisations contributing to world peace, cultural understanding and cooperation. The focus is on the first Indian recipient of this award. Such questions test awareness of Indian personalities who have been acknowledged globally for their work in non violence, social reform and cultural harmony, beyond purely political or economic contributions.

Given Data / Assumptions:
- The award mentioned is the U Thant Award for cultural understanding.
- The question seeks the first Indian to receive this honour.
- Options list two Prime Ministers of India, a noted social reformer and a general option of none of these.
- We assume that only one of the named individuals is historically documented as the first Indian recipient.

Concept / Approach:
The U Thant Award is associated with peace and cultural understanding. Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a spiritual leader and social reformer best known for the Bhoodan movement, promoting land donation and non violent social change. He gained international respect for his efforts to reduce inequality and promote harmony, which aligns well with the spirit of the U Thant Award. The approach is to recall this connection and match it with the correct option.

Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Recognise that the U Thant Award honours work related to peace and cultural understanding. Step 2: Recall that Acharya Vinoba Bhave was a disciple of Mahatma Gandhi and led the Bhoodan and Gramdan movements, emphasising non violence and social justice. Step 3: Remember that he was internationally honoured and is recorded as the first Indian to receive the U Thant Award. Step 4: Compare this information with the options, noting that Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi, though eminent leaders, are not specifically associated as first Indian recipients of this award. Step 5: Reject the option none of these because a valid correct name exists among the given options, namely Acharya Vinoba Bhave.

Verification / Alternative check:
Standard general knowledge sources and biographies of Acharya Vinoba Bhave list the U Thant Award among the international honours he received. These references often highlight that he was the first Indian to be given this award for his contribution to non violent social change and cultural understanding. No similar references exist connecting this specific award and description with Nehru or Indira Gandhi, which confirms the accuracy of the answer.

Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Jawaharlal Nehru received many international honours and awards, but he is not recorded as the first Indian recipient of the U Thant Award for cultural understanding.
Indira Gandhi likewise held global recognition and awards, but the U Thant Award first Indian recipient is not associated with her in standard reference works.
None of these is incorrect because Acharya Vinoba Bhave, who is listed as option C, is indeed an Indian and the correct answer for this question.

Common Pitfalls:
Many learners tend to choose very famous political leaders like Nehru or Indira Gandhi when they are unsure, assuming that any major international award must have gone to them first. This can lead to errors when the award is actually linked to less politically prominent but highly respected social reformers. Another pitfall is to select none of these when a less familiar name appears. Reading about Acharya Vinoba Bhave and his global recognition helps avoid such mistakes.

Final Answer:
The first Indian to receive the U Thant Award for cultural understanding was Acharya Vinoba Bhave.