TECC Representative Tien Chung-kwang (right) accepts the Social Achievement Prize on behalf of President Tsai Ing-wen and the people of Taiwan from Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize CEO Peter Bundalo April 23 in New Delhi. (CNA)

President Tsai Ing-wen and the people of Taiwan were awarded the Social Achievement honor April 23 at India’s Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize in recognition of their efforts to advance democracy, freedom and human rights.
 
Organizers of the event described Taiwan as a beacon of these values, and called on the international community to support the “vibrant and resilient country of Taiwan.”
 
Representative Tien Chung-kwang, head of Taipei Economic and Cultural Center in India, accepted the award on behalf of the people and president at the ceremony in New Delhi. Expressing gratitude to the jury, he described Tsai as an active promoter of peace, democracy and human rights since assuming office in May 2016.
 
As India is the largest democracy in the world and Taiwan a beacon of democracy in Asia, the two sides can strengthen collaboration in preserving these shared values, Tien said, adding that the award will shortly be delivered to the Presidential Office in Taipei City.
 
Established in 2018, the Rabindranath Tagore Literary Prize is presented annually in honor of the late Indian artist, poet and musician Rabindranath Tagore, the first non-European winner of the Nobel Prize in Literature. It comprises a literary award as well as one or more social achievement honors.
 
The literature prize at this year’s event was conferred on Rana Dasgupta for his novel “Solo,” described by organizers as a “hauntingly beautiful recital about estrangement and the ultimate failure of material existence.” 
 
Yohei Sasakawa, chairman of Japanese charitable organization The Nippon Foundation, was also named winner of a Social Achievement Prize for efforts to tackle leprosy and foster world peace. (HC-E)