By Satya Narayan Misra in Bhubaneswar, September 3, 2026: Regarded as Asia’s version of the Nobel Prize, the Ramon Magsaysay award was established in 1957 to perpetuate former Philippine President Ramon Magsaysay’s example of integrity in governance, courageous service to the people and pragmatic idealism within a democratic society.

While there are allegations that Magsaysay’s tenure as defence secretary was marked by brutal suppression of dissent and subservience to the US government, it does not take away the core idea of the award; honouring ‘greatness of spirit through ‘selfless service’ to people across Asia. This year’s award to Tommy Koh, a Singaporean diplomat & scholar, Bo Kyi, an intrepid Mynmar activist and Runa Khan, the Bangladeshi aid giver could not have been more eclectic; capturing the core principles of indomitable spirit and self-less service within a democratic framework.

The Enduring Contribution of UNCLOS

Tommy Koh, a serving diplomat & international law scholar, is best known for his role in the negotiations that led to the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS). His work is held up as an example of how knowledge & progress take a deeper meaning when shared and put at the service of the community. In September 2018, he encouraged the LGBT community to challenge S377A of the Penal Code.

A total of 164 nations and the European Union have accepted UNCLOS and respect the 12- nautical-mile territorial sea limit and 200-nautical –mile Exclusive Economic Zone for fishing and natural resources. The only outlier is Donald Trump who rejects the principle of UNCLOS that deep sea ocean floor represents the ‘common heritage of mankind’.

The Pioneering work of AAPP

Ko Bo Kyi is an interesting case of a student activist, political prisoner who founded the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners (AAPP). The 8th August 1988 (8-8-88) movement to end the oppressive military rule saw 3000 dead and landed Bo Kui in jail. He suffered repeated interrogation, beating and torture, even inveigled by authorities to be an informer, yet he did not relent and used his time to learn English, by writing on the floor of his cell with a piece of brick and took lessons from a Professor held in an adjacent cell.

Upon his release after seven years he fled to the Thai border to set up AAPP, an organisation that works for current and former political prisoners provides financial support and medical care, monitors prison conditions and advocates for release of 15000 political prisoners who are languishing in jail since February 2021.

As nation wide civil war continues as resistance groups battle the military regime for control of the country, the Human Rights Watch notes that Kyi has ‘demonstrated great bravery & resolution in sharing his story and that of other political detainees, denouncing the abuses committed by the Burma military regime masquerading as civilian government’. The Magsaysay foundation notes that Bo Kyi shows ‘extraordinary courage, personal sacrifice & unwavering belief that democracy and human dignity are always worth defending’.

An Intrepid Defender of Human Dignity

It is this theme ‘that people can live with poverty but not without dignity and hope’ that is at the heart of Friendship Foundation, set up in 2002 by Runa Khan of Bangladesh, the third recipient of the award. Born to a Zamindar family of undivided Bengal, whose father hosted global thinkers, musicians, Zen monks and Hindu priests, in Runa’s hands, privilege became not an entitlement but a responsibility; not a family legacy to protect and perpetuate but a gift to be shared, so that others too have an opportunity to live with hope, opportunity and dignity. Friendship began its operation in 2002, pioneering a hospital ship for the most deprived community in the world living in sand bar islands in Bangladesh.

Today, seven hospital ships, two land based hospitals, 5550 mobile clinics are at the forefront of medical aid. Its climate adaption operations have built the first solar villages, trained 10000 volunteers in rescue and relief & 2 lakh people have found new jobs in 137 sustainable economic development hubs. What started as a single hospital is now servicing 7.5 million across a large spectrum covering, healthcare, education, climate action, sustainable development, inclusive citizenship and cultural preservation.

For Runa Khan, approach to development must be value driven rather than project driven. As she observes “mostof our work is to restore self-respect than simply to deliver aid”. Both Bo Kyi And Runa Khan represent two facets of pioneering work; defending the rights of political prisoners to voice dissent in a democracy and how to reach education and health care to most vulnerable people in remote areas.

Our founding fathers in the Constitution had implored upon the states to strive for a social order that promotes justice, social, economic and political freedom for all and ‘endeavour to eliminate inequalities in facilities and opportunity for people residing in different areas’. As we look back, our growth script clearly camouflages the serious deficits that an overwhelming number of citizens’ countenance in the area of quality education, health care, basic nutrition and skill. Two disturbing trends are discernible.

As is well known many of the Christian missionaries are doing pioneering service in establishing medical clinics and hospitals in remote rural areas, provide treatment for HIV/AIDS and setting up school for vulnerable sections & imparting practical job skills. In the amendment to the FCRA bill being proposed by the BJP, the accent is on asset seizure & funds from non-profit & religious charities cancel license & prosecute missionaries.

The other disturbing development is that in the recent Independence Day address of the PM, he has referred to Dimagi Naxal as a threat to the development of the country. In reality; it is a subterfuge to criminalise dissent and generate a pervasive climate of fear across academia, journalists and civil society.

The Jantar Mantar agitation and its move to improve the quality of public education is a clear pointer that police repression is not a substitute for inclusive development and that constitutional promise of socio economic justice for all cannot be clad in rhetoric. The recent awards carry within them the seeds of democracy, dissent & dignity as fundamental right of all

*Emeritus Professor