Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar became the first Indian to receive the Crans Montana Forum Award. This award has also been won by persons like German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israel President Shimon Peres, former leader of Palestine Liberation Organisation Yasser Arafat, European Commission President Jose Manuel Barroso and former president of the Soviet Union Mikhail Gorbachev.

On conferring the award to Ravishankar, Jean Paul Carteron,

founder of the Crans Montana Forum said, "In you, the East is not only leading the world in spirit, but in action as well. You have broadened the vision of those who are more fortunate and have shared with the less fortunate. If your teachings were followed by politicians, the world would be a different place."

On receiving this award, Sri Ravishankar said he would share it with all those millions who are silently working to make the world a better place.