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IT czar and philanthropist Azim Premji has been bestowed with the highest French civilian distinction Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur (Knight of the Legion of Honour) The chairman of Wipro received the distinction for his contribution to developing the IT industry in India, his economic outreach in France, and his contribution to society.

The Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour), instituted in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, is the highest civilian award given by the French Republic for outstanding service to France, regardless of the nationality of the recipients.

Zubin Mehta, a conductor of Western and Eastern classical music and the current music director of the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra, has been the recipient of several honours. Having received the Padma Bhushan in 1966, he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2001. The same year French President Jacques Chirac honoured him with the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur.

Nadir Godrej, the MD of Godrej Industries, has an old connection with France, right from the time he along with cousin Jamshyd Godrej took a break from studies in the US to spend a summer in the south of France in 1970. Godrej even claimed that he started thinking in French.

The India Inc boss has received the Ordre National du Mérite and the Chevalier de la Legion d'honneur (2008) from the Government of France for his achievements.