Shailaja Teacher Refuses Magsaysay Award, 10 Things We Know

KK Shailaja, also famously known as Shailaja Teacher, has declined the honour of receiving the Ramon Magsaysay Award, which she was nominated for while serving as health minister of Kerala. She chose consultation with senior members of her political party before turning it down.

Shailaja Teacher was also awarded the Central European University (CEU) Open Society Prize in 2021. The award was given in appreciation of her work as the public health minister of Kerala. This time around, she was on the Ramon Magsaysay Award Foundation's shortlist because of her work to make public health services more widely available and because of the way she led during the Nipah and COVID-19 epidemics in Kerala.

Here are 10 things we know about her turning down the Ramon Magsaysay Award

1. Shailaja Teacher was considered for the 64th Magsaysay Award for her contribution to the community and dedication to efficiently solving the state’s health problems.

2. A controversy has sparked amid the newsbreak that she has declined the award. Reports suggest that the CPI(M) party had refused KK Shailaja's permission to accept the Prize. According to reports, when Shailaja discussed this with party authorities, they decided against her acceptance of the award.

3. Shailaja confirmed the development by telling the media that the CPI(M) central committee had decided unanimously that she shouldn't receive the award. "Magsaysay (the past president of the Philippines) held anti-communist views. I was given the award's consideration. I had discussed receiving the prize with the party because I am a political leader. I had thanked the charity for considering my name and then informed them of my choice," she stated.

4. Reports state that the party objected to the prize for several reasons, the first of which is that Ramon Magsaysay, a former president of the Philippines, was known for brutally suppressing communists there. The CPI(M) believes that receiving this prize could ultimately hurt the party.

5. The second reason for refusal is that the party collectively believes that Kerala's successful management of the Nipah and COVID-19 outbreaks was a team effort rather than a single person being responsible.

Suggested reading: KK Shailaja Calls Her Removal From The Kerala Cabinet “Policy Decision”

6. Third, the party feels that the Magsaysay Award holds no history in honouring current politicians like Shailaja. The party notes that earlier recipients like Kiran Bedi, Aruna Roy and Arvind Kejriwal have received the award, but they were not active politicians at the time of receiving it.

7. Shailaja acknowledged that she was a finalist for the award but rebuked claims that the party solely chose to decline her nomination. "I looked at the award's past winners, and no political figure has ever earned it. I naturally brought up this topic with the CPI(M) Central Committee since I am a member of it. Together, we decided that I didn't need to accept the honour in my role as a political leader, she told the media.

8. She also emphasised that although it is a significant honour, the award is given by non-governmental organisations that might not share Communist ideals. Therefore, she said, "It is not appropriate for me to accept this prize as an individual."

9. Shailaja furthered her party's stand on the award saying that she was considered as a result of a team effort in the state's healthcare sector, hence it's not appropriate for her to receive it individually. "I have thanked the Award Foundation and informed them that I cannot receive this award in a personal capacity," she said.

10. The world's attention was drawn to Kerala in the past two years because of how well the state dealt with the pandemic and the Nipah virus. KK Shailaja was also given the nickname 'rockstar' because of her swift response to the initial outbreak of the virus. In the early stages of Kerala's battle against the Nipah and Covid-19, Shailaja led from the front. She was primarily applauded for lowering Kerala's death rate during the early stages of Covid-19 to below the national average.

Indians who have won the renowned Magsaysay award include Kiran Bedi, former lieutenant governor of Puducherry, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, former election commissioner T N Sheshan, musician M S Subbulakshmi, and scientist M S Swaminathan.