Former Chief Justice of India JS Khehar, late Suzuki chief Osamu Suzuki, and folk singer late Sharda Sinha and former cricketer are among 139 eminent people given Padma awards on the eve of the 76th Republic Day on Saturday. In total, the set of civilian awards announced includes seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri decorations.
"Twenty-three of the awardees are women and the list also includes 10 persons from the category of foreigners, NRI, PIO, OCI and 13 posthumous awardees," the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement.
Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar has been given the Padma Vibhushan, while Suzuki chief Osamu Suzuki, folk singer Sharda Sinha and MT Vasudevan Nair earned the honour posthumously. Dinamalar publisher Lakshmipathy Ramasubbaiyer has been awarded Padma Shri for literature, education and journalism.
Former Bihar deputy chief minister Sushil Modi, economist Bibek Debroy, and gazal singer Pankaj Udhas have been given Padma Bhushan posthumously.
Former Maharashtra chief minister and ex-Lok Sabha speaker Manohar Joshi (posthumous) and film-maker Shekhar Kapur have been given Padma Bhushan.
The awards are given in various disciplines and fields like art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.
Telugu superstar Nandamuri Balakrishna has earned Padma Bhushan. Former SBI chairperson Arundhati Bhattacharya, recently-retired cricketer R Ashwin and former hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh have been given Padma Shri.
More Padma Shri
A 100-year old freedom fighter from Goa, a dhak player from West Bengal who trained 150 women in the male-dominated field, and India's first woman puppeteers are among 30 Indians who were awarded the Padma Shri.
Harvinder Singh, who won gold in the Paris 2024 Summer Paralympic Games, has also been honoured with the Padma Shri award.
"With deep gratitude and honour, I accept the gracious invitation to the at-home reception at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on 26th of January. It is an occasion of immense pride and privilege to be in the presence of the esteemed President of India, a symbol of our nation's unity and strength," Harvinder Singh said in an Instagram post.
Padma Shri awardee Libia Lobo Sardesai played an important role in Goa's freedom movement and co-founded an underground radio station -- Voz da Liberdabe (Voice of Freedom) -- in a forested area in 1955 to rally people against Portuguese rule.
Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year old dhak player from Bengal, who broke gender stereotype by training 150 women in the male-dominated field, is one of the awardees.
Mr Dey also created a lightweight dhak type, 1.5 kg less than the conventional instrument, and represented India at international platforms. He performed with maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
A strong supporter of woman empowerment, 82-year-old Sally Holkar transformed the once-dying Maheshwari craft and founded a handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, to train people in traditional weaving techniques.
Born in the US and inspired by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar's legacy, she devoted five decades of her life to revitalise the 300-year-old weaving legacy. She has been awarded the Padma Shri.
With inputs from PTI
