Thai princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn, daughter of the Thai king, has won a formidable international reputation as a scholar, historian and development expert
Her awards include the Magsaysay prize for public service and the Indira Gandhi prize for sustainable development
A scholar of Sanskrit, Pali and Buddhism, she is fluent in four languages, an expert on the different versions of the Ramayana, and on India's historic links with Southeast Asia
She has helped establish many academic and scientific ties between India and Thailand