New Delhi: Seven from Telangana were among 45 individuals from across India chosen for the Padma Shri award in the ‘unsung heroes’ category on Sunday, January 25.
The list includes eminent scientist Chandramouli Gaddamanugu, former Project Director at the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), who devoted over three decades to the development of the Akash missile system.
Senior scientist Krishnamurty Balasubramanian (Science and Engineering), noted for his work in advanced materials and engineering components, previously headed the Non-Ferrous Materials Technology Development Centre (NFTDC) in Hyderabad.
Renowned oncologist Dr Palkonda Vijay Anand Reddy (Medicine), currently Director and senior oncologist at Apollo Cancer Centre, Jubilee Hills, has also been selected for the Padma Shri this year. Another medical professional, Dr G V Rao, Director and Chief of Surgical Gastroenterology, GI Oncology and Minimally Invasive Surgery at AIG Hospitals, Hyderabad, figures in the list as well.
Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj (Science and Engineering), a senior scientist heading a research group at the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB), has been honoured, along with Rama Reddy Mamidi, a reputed researcher recognised for modernising animal husbandry practices in Telangana.
Kuchipudi exponent and prominent classical dancer Deepika Reddy has also been conferred the Padma Shri.
Former bus conductor from Karnataka wins award
Other awardees include Anke Gowda from Karnataka, a former bus conductor, who set up the world’s largest free-access library, ‘Pustak Mane’, comprising more than two million books in 20 languages along with rare manuscripts.
The 75-year-old bibliophile from Haralahalli village near Mysuru has been chosen for the Padma Shri for his unique effort to empower learners across India.
Joining him will be Armida Fernandes, the Mumbai-based paediatrician who set up Asia’a first human milk bank, improving the survival prospects of infants, Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, a 90-year old tribal Tarpa player – a musical instrument made of bottle gourd and bamboo – from Maharashtra, and distinguished social worker from Jammu and Kashmir, Brij Lal Bhat, among others.
Continuing with the principle of celebrating ordinary Indians making extraordinary contributions, this year’s Padma awards recognise a wide spectrum of unsung heroes from across the length and breadth of India, the sources said.
From preserving indigenous heritage and promoting national integration in the border states to promoting tribal languages and indigenous martial arts, dying arts and weaves to safeguarding the nation’s ecological wealth and championing ‘swachta’ – this set of awardees truly epitomises everyday Indians silently going about their everyday lives, in service of the country, they said.
The list also includes Budri Thati, who set up schools in the Naxal-affected areas of Chhattisgarh; Charan Hembram, a Santhali author-composer from Odisha; Chiranji Lal Yadav from Moradabad, an expert in intricate brass engraving work; Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya, an exponent of ‘Maanbhatt’, a traditional Gujarati performing art form.
Each has overcome tremendous personal hardships and tragedies to not just excel in their chosen fields, but go further on to serve society at large, the sources said.
These include individuals from marginalised and Dalit communities, primitive tribes and those from remote and difficult terrains, they said.
These are people who have dedicated their entire lifetimes in service of the disabled, women, children, Dalits and tribals – working to promote healthcare, education, livelihood, sanitation, sustainability, etc.
Puducherry’s K Pajanivel has been awarded the Padma Shri for nurturing Silambam, an ancient Tamil weapon-based martial art, while senior journalist Kailash Chandra Pant, who has been working for over 60 years to propagate Hindi across India, has been awarded in the literature and education category.
Khem Raj Sundriyal from Haryana has been chosen for preserving and teaching the tapestry and Jamdani weaving technique to thousands of artisans from Haryana and Himachal Pradesh.
Sundriyal also revived the Panipat ‘khes’ with new designs and introduced polyester yarn in handlooms.
(With inputs from PTI.)
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