GG News Bureau
New Delhi, 26th Jan. Former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, actors Vyjayantimala Bali and Konidela Chiranjeevi, Sulabh International founder late Bindeshwar Pathak, the first woman judge of the Supreme Court late M Fathima Beevi, and Bombay Samachar owner Hormusji N Cama were among 132 distinguished individuals awarded Padma awards on Thursday.
Actor Mithun Chakraborty, Foxconn Chairman Young Liu from Taiwan, BJP veteran Ram Naik, the late actor Vijaykanth, singer Usha Uthup, and philanthropist Kiran Nadar were also awarded with the prestigious civilian awards on the eve of the 75th Republic Day, according to an official statement.
The government had already announced on Tuesday that it would posthumously confer the Bharat Ratna, the highest civilian award in the country, on two-time Bihar chief minister Karpoori Thakur.
Among the Padma awardees, 34 are unsung heroes, including India’s first woman elephant mahout Parbati Baruah, known as “Hasti Kanya,” tribal environmentalist Chami Murmu, social worker Sangthankima who runs Mizoram’s largest orphanage, and plastic surgeon Prema Dhanraj.
Padma Bhushan was awarded to 17 prominent individuals, including Beevi, Cama, Chakraborty, Young, Vijaykanth, Uthup, Naik, Group Editor and CEO of Gujarati newspaper Janmabhoomi Kundan Vyas, veteran actor and director Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo, former Union health minister CP Thakur, and BJP leader Olanchery Rajagopal.
Tennis player Rohan Bopanna, Nadar, hockey player Harbinder Singh, professional squash player Joshna Chinappa, the first person of Indian origin elected to the Parliament of Papua New Guinea Sasindran Muthuvel, and banker Kalpana Morparia are among the 110 personalities awarded Padma Shri.
Rabindra Sangeet exponent from Bangladesh Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, 100-year-old French Yoga Teacher Charlotte Chopin, and singer Surendra Mohan Mishra have also been honored with Padma Shri.
“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.
The awards are announced every year on the occasion of Republic Day.
President Droupadi Murmu has approved the conferment of 132 Padma Awards, including 30 women, eight individuals from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, and nine posthumous awardees.
In a post on X, Prime Minister Narendra Modi congratulated all the recipients of the Padma Awards, stating that India cherishes their contributions across diverse sectors and hopes they continue to inspire others with their exceptional work.
Home Minister Amit Shah also praised the awardees, stating that they have set pioneering examples for social change and elevated the pride of the nation with their service.
