Which Indian social activist was selected on 27 July 2016 for the Ramon Magsaysay Award, often called Asia Nobel Prize?

Difficulty: Medium

Correct Answer: Bezwada Wilson

Explanation:


Introduction / Context:
The Ramon Magsaysay Award is often described as Asia Nobel Prize. It honours individuals and organisations working for public service, integrity, and social transformation in Asia. India has produced many recipients of this award over the decades. This question focuses on one such Indian activist who was selected for the award in 2016 for his efforts to eradicate manual scavenging and uphold the dignity of marginalised workers.


Given Data / Assumptions:

  • The award is the Ramon Magsaysay Award.
  • The year under focus is 2016.
  • The options list Bezwada Wilson, Kailash Satyarthi, Kiran Bedi, and Mahasweta Devi.
  • One of these names matches the 2016 award announcement.


Concept / Approach:
In 2016, Bezwada Wilson, a well known Indian activist, was selected for the Ramon Magsaysay Award for his relentless campaign to end manual scavenging and protect the rights and dignity of sanitation workers. Kailash Satyarthi received the Nobel Peace Prize for work against child labour, Kiran Bedi is a former police officer and social worker, and Mahasweta Devi was a celebrated writer and activist who received many honours earlier. For the specific 2016 Magsaysay announcement on 27 July, the correct Indian name among the options is Bezwada Wilson.


Step-by-Step Solution:
Step 1: Read the question carefully and note both the year 2016 and the award name Ramon Magsaysay. Step 2: Recall that in 2016 news reports highlighted an Indian activist working against manual scavenging who was selected for this award. Step 3: Connect this description with Bezwada Wilson, who has led a long campaign against this inhuman practice. Step 4: Recognise that Kailash Satyarthi is linked more with the Nobel Peace Prize and child labour issues. Step 5: Select Bezwada Wilson as the correct answer.


Verification / Alternative check:
To verify, you can recall that in lists of awardees for 2016, Bezwada Wilson and musician T. M. Krishna are both mentioned as Indian recipients of the Magsaysay Award. Articles usually highlight his work in the Safai Karmachari Andolan and his efforts to organise sanitation workers and challenge the social system that supports manual scavenging. Since none of the other options fit this specific profile and year, this confirms that Bezwada Wilson is the right choice.


Why Other Options Are Wrong:
Kailash Satyarthi is indeed a globally recognised activist but is linked with the Nobel Peace Prize in 2014, not the Magsaysay Award in 2016.

Kiran Bedi received the Magsaysay Award much earlier, in the late nineteen seventies, for police reforms, not in 2016.

Mahasweta Devi, a writer and activist, received the Magsaysay Award decades ago, so the year in question does not match her recognition.


Common Pitfalls:
A frequent mistake is to pick Kiran Bedi because many students associate her strongly with the Magsaysay Award, without paying attention to the year mentioned. Another pitfall is to confuse the Magsaysay Award with the Nobel Prize and select Kailash Satyarthi. To avoid these errors, always link each award with the correct year and the specific cause for which the person is known.


Final Answer:
The Indian social activist selected on 27 July 2016 for the Ramon Magsaysay Award is Bezwada Wilson.

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