A.R. Rahman honoured with Crystal Award

Academy Award winner A.R. Rahman received the World Economic Forum's Crystal Award for his contribution to the world of art and culture and for his outreach to improve the state of the world. "Countries that work to eradicate poverty and help the poor are the best," said Rahman at the annual summit of the forum at the Swiss ski resort after Hilde Schwab, president and co-founder of the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship, presented him with the award.

Jose Carreras, an opera artist from Barcelona, was also given the Crystal Award for his social work for the patients of leukaemia.

The award function was attended by several heads of governments, including Russian President Dmitry Medvedev, top C.E.O's, religious leaders and academicians.