Manila: India's Palagummi Sainath has won the 2007 Raman Magsaysay award, widely regarded as Asia's equivalent of the Nobel Prize, for his contributions to journalism, literature and creative communication arts.

While announcing the award, the Board of Trustee of the Raman Magsaysay Award Foundation (RMAF) said that Sainath, who has been writing on social issues like farmer suicide in Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra is among the seven individuals being awarded for their contribution in various fields.

Palagummi Sainath was born in 1957 in a distinguished family in Andhra Pradesh. He is a graduate of Jawaharlal Nehru University, Delhi where he was part of an activist student population. After receiving a Master's degree in history, he launched his career as a journalist at the United News of India (UNI) in 1980. He had received highest individual award at UNI.

Other winners of the award are from China, Korea, Nepal and Philippines. The awards would be presented in a ceremony to be held on August 31st in Manila. According to RMAF President Carmencita T. Abella - "We are truly moving Asia forward through their remarkable and selfless service to their respective societies".