President Murmu Honors 65 With Padma Awards
NEW DELHI – President Droupadi Murmu on June 23 conferred Padma Awards on 65 eminent personalities during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan, honoring achievers from fields including arts, sports, medicine, literature, education and public affairs.
Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah and other dignitaries attended the ceremony.
The President presented two Padma Vibhushan, seven Padma Bhushan and 56 Padma Shri awards. Combined with the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held in May, nearly all recipients announced in this year’s Padma Awards list have now been honored.
Among the prominent awardees were playback singer Alka Yagnik, actor Mammootty, tennis legend Vijay Amritraj, former India cricket captain Rohit Sharma, actor R. Madhavan, hockey goalkeeper Savita Punia and veteran actor Satish Shah, who received the Padma Shri posthumously.
A poignant moment came when the family of Jharkhand Mukti Morcha founder and former Jharkhand Chief Minister Shibu Soren received the Padma Bhushan awarded to him posthumously. President Murmu stepped down from the stage to present the honor to his wife, Rupi Soren, who attended the ceremony in a wheelchair.
Remembered as ‘Dishom Guru’, Soren devoted his life to tribal rights, social justice and the movement that eventually led to the creation of Jharkhand in 2000. He served three terms as chief minister and remained one of the state’s most influential political figures.
The awards also highlighted the contributions of members of the Indian diaspora and international scholars. Indian-American cancer specialist Dr. Dattatreyudu Nori received the Padma Bhushan for medicine, while Indian-American gastroenterologist Dr. Prateek Sharma was awarded the Padma Shri.
Russian educator Liudmila Khokhlova received the Padma Shri for Literature and Education, while Georgia’s Vladimer Mestvirishvili was posthumously honored with the Padma Shri for Sports.
Other notable recipients included renowned pediatrician and neonatologist Dr. Armida Fernandez, physician Dr. Suresh Hanagavadi, Assamese sculptor Nuruddin Ahmed, Carnatic percussion maestro Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam, educationist Dr. Charan Hembram and tribal musician Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honors, are announced annually on Republic Day and recognize distinguished service across a wide range of disciplines. This year, the government announced 131 Padma Awards, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri honors. (IANS)
