Legends remembered, icons felicitated in Padma Award ceremon
Legends remembered, icons felicitated in Padma Award ceremony
In a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday conferred Padma Awards to 68 individuals who have made exceptional contributions in diverse fields
Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri Awards at
the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on
Tuesday. (Photo Courtesy: X @rashtrapatibhvn)
NEW DELHI — In a grand ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi
Murmu on Tuesday conferred Padma Awards to 68 individuals who have made
exceptional contributions in diverse fields such as art, literature, education,
public affairs, medicine, social work, science, sports, and industry. The
event, attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah,
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and other dignitaries, marked the
second phase of the Padma Awards ceremony for the year 2025.
The Padma Awards, among the highest civilian honours of
India, are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and
Padma Shri. This year, the government had announced a total of 139 Padma
awardees on the eve of Republic Day.
Among those honoured in this phase were 3 Padma
Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awardees. The ceremony held
special significance with 13 posthumous recognitions, honouring legends who
left a lasting legacy in their fields.
One of the most emotional moments of the event was the
posthumous conferral of the Padma Vibhushan to late Bhojpuri and folk singer Dr
Sharda Sinha, whose music resonated deeply with the Indian heartland.Her son, Anshuman Sinha, received the award
on behalf of the legendary folk singer renowned for her devotional and Chhath
songs.
Other recipients of the Padma Vibhushan included former
Chief Justice of India Jagdish Singh Khehar and classical dancer Kumudini
Lakhia (posthumous).
The Padma Bhushan awardees included social activist
Sadhvi Ritambhara, known for her role in the Ram Janmabhoomi movement,
actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, and celebrated journalist and author A.
Surya Prakash. Among the posthumous Padma Bhushan recipients were legendary singer
Pankaj Udhas, veteran politician Manohar Joshi, economist Bibek Debroy. enowned
Malayalam writer M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Osamu Suzuki, the Japanese
industrialist known for his pivotal role in Suzuki’s partnership with India.
The largest share of honours came under the Padma Shri
category, with 57 individuals recognised for their grassroots and innovative
contributions across the country. Prominent names include playback singer
Arijit Singh, cricketer R. Ashwin, author Pratibha Satpathy, former SBI Chairperson
Arundhati Bhattacharya, and violinist Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. The list also
included foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs—ten in total—reflecting
India’s acknowledgement of global contributions.
Notably, 23 of the awardees are women, showcasing the
growing recognition of female excellence in various sectors. The Padma Awards
continue to honour unsung heroes—many of them from remote regions—who have made
significant contributions without seeking the limelight.
This year’s ceremony reaffirms the spirit of "nation
first, people first", with awardees reflecting India’s cultural,
scientific, and humanitarian diversity. The government’s efforts to democratise
the Padma Awards have made them a true people's honour, celebrating not just
fame, but meaningful service.
