Award: Former education minister and president of Royal Thimphu College (RTC), Thakur S Powdyel, has been awarded the Distinguished Service Award by Samata Sahitya Academy, a philanthropic organisation based in Mumbai, India.

Presenting the award in Thimphu recently, Dr DS Tandelkar, the founder president of the academy, said that the academy had been following Thakur S Powdyel’s life and work as an educator and had been greatly inspired by the stories about his contributions to society. Dr Tandelkar described Thakur S Powdyel as an outstanding educator who embodies not only his country’s values, but also the ideals of the academy.

Samata Sahitya Academy honours and highlights the remarkable contribution of true leaders of society working constantly and honestly for the betterment of society living away from name and fame. It honours individuals in the fields of art, drama, music, theatre, journalism, education, literature, science, sports, business, and inventions, among others. It has been organising the award ceremonies since 2008 across India as well as in Nepal and Sri Lanka.

Accepting the award, Thakur S Powdyel said it was deeply humbling for him to see high officials of the academy come all the way to the RTC to bestow the honour. “This award is an acknowledgement of not an individual, but of the many men and women who have made education their passion and life-long commitment over many years,” he said.

He thanked the academy and expressed his commitment to promoting the education sector as the vital instrument of nation-building. He dedicated the award to His Royal Highness Gyalsey Jigme Namgyel Wangchuck.

Thakur S Powdyel received the prestigious Gusi Peace Prize for Life-time Contribution to Education in 2011 and the Global Education Award for Outstanding Contribution to Education in 2012.

Contributed by 

Needrup Zangpo

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