The Padma Awards, one of India's highest civilian honours, are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognise exceptional service in fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science, trade, medicine, literature, sports, and civil service. Padma Vibhushan is for exceptional service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service, and Padma Shri for notable service in any field. The awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
The list of awardees included 23 women and ten individuals from the categories of foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs. Additionally, at least 13 of the recipients were honoured posthumously.
Padma Vibhushan for ex-CJI Khehar, Osamu Suzuki, danseuse Kumudini
Former CJI Jagdish Singh Khehar, the first Sikh to have risen to the highest position in judiciary and who was part of the bench that criminalised ‘triple talaq’, and late chairman Osamu Suzuki, who brought about a passenger vehicle revolution in the country, were named for Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award. The Padma Vibhushan list also features celebrated violinist L Subramaniam, Kathak danseuse from Gujarat Kumudini Lakhia, Bihari folk singer late Sharda Sinha, gastroenterologist D Nageshwar Reddy and Malayalam author and film director M T Vasudevan Nair.
This year’s 139 Padma awards, includes seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri. As many as 23 awardees are women, while 10 are foreigners, NRIs, PIO or overseas citizens of India (OCI).
A state-wise break shows 14 awardees from Maharashtra, 13 from Tamil Nadu, 10 from UP, nine each from Bengal and Karnataka and eight from Gujarat.
The Padma Bhushan has a diverse cast, from the once-fiery VHP leader Sadhvi Rithambara who is now a social worker and runs an ashram for girls at Vrinadavan, to former Maharashtra CM and Shiv Sena leader Manohar Joshi, Bibek Debroy, who headed the economic advisory council to PM and Chandrakant Sompura, the original architect of Ram Mandir at Ayodhya.
Film personality Shekhar Kapur, Malayalam actress Shobhana, ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas, former hockey player and coach P R Sreejesh, film actors Anant Nag and Nandamur Balakrishna, former Bihar deputy CM late Sushil Modi, Zydus Lifesciences Chairman Pankaj Patel and journalists A Surya Prakash and Rambahadur Rai have also been conferred the Padma Bhushan.
The Padma Shri list, like the past few years under the Modi government, is a rich mix of accomplished celebrities in their field and unsung heroes, including foreigners, who have dedicated their lives to preserving and promoting Indian culture, tradition, innovative farming techniques and alternative healthcare. The list includes Libia Lobo Sardesai, a key figure in Goa’s freedom movement who co-founded the underground radio station ‘Voz da Liberdade’ in 1955. Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year-old Dhak player from West Bengal, challenged gender norms by training 150 women in the male-dominated field. Sally Holkar, 82, revitalised the Maheshwari craft and founded a handloom school in Madhya Pradesh. Other honourees include wildlife researcher Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli, bhajan singer Batool Begum, and puppeteer Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara. Additional awardees include Tangaliya weaver Lavjibhai Nagjibhai, oncologist Vijayalakshmi Deshamane, and forest conservationist Chaitram Devchand Pawar. Tribal musician Pandi Ram Mandavi, social activist Radha Bahin Bhatt, and folk preservationist Joynacharan Bathari were also recognised for their contributions. Other prominent awardees also includes Arijit Singh, Arundhati Bhattacharya, Gita Upadhyay, Ajay V Bhatt, Chetan E Chitnis, Stephen Knapp, Nitin Nohria, R Ashwin, Ricky Gyan Kej and more.
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Eight from Gujarat honoured with Padma awards
Eight individuals from Gujarat were honoured with Padma awards. Kathak exponent Kumudini Lakhia from Ahmedabad received the Padma Vibhushan for her contributions to performing arts, while Pankaj Patel, founder and chairman of Zydus Group, was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to trade and industry.
Lakhia, 94, says, “The work of decades has found its result in this award. I am happy that we have brought Indian dance to the new generation.”
Patel dedicated his award to the pharmacists and researchers of the Indian pharmaceutical industry, stating, “Over the years we made India self-reliant in medicines with collective hard work and dedication. The future of Indian pharma is bright.” Chandrakant Sompura, 82, architect of the Ram Temple at Ayodhya, expressed his gratitude, noting his family’s eight-generation legacy in architecture. “My grandfather Prabhashankar Sompura was also a recipient of the Padma Shri in 1973.”
Ratan Parimoo, a nonagenarian artist and art historian, felt honoured for his contributions to art, art education, and museums. “I will continue to contribute with renewed zeal and inspire the younger generation of Indian artists.” Suresh Soni, founder of Sabarkantha-based Sahyog Trust, was recognised for his work with leprosy patients and those with disabilities. His son said that despite his father’s ill health, he was elated by the recognition. “We hope this motivates others to work for leprosy-affected people,” he said.
Poet Tushar Shukla, awarded the Padma Shri, said, “My work in the digital space kept me connected to the young generation and new ideas.”
Other Padma Shri recipients include Chandrakant Sheth, a poet and critic known for his literary activities and translation work, and Lavji Parmar, a weaving maestro recognised for his dedication to the 700-year-old Tangaliya art.
