President Droupadi Murmu gave the Padma Vibhushan award to several people on Wednesday. Among them were the veteran socialist leader and former chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, Late Mulayam Singh Yadav, and the doctor Dilip Mahalanabis, known worldwide for his work on Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS).
At a ceremony held in the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, the Padma Bhushan was awarded to the author and philanthropist Sudha Murty, the physicist Deepak Dhar, known for his long-standing research career in statistical physics, the novelist S L Bhyrappa, the renowned playback singer Vani Jairam, and the Vedic scholar Tridandi Chinna Jeeyar Swamiji.
Murty¡¯s daughter Akshata, the wife of British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, was seen sitting in the front row next to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, along with other dignitaries, at the majestic Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Yadav, also India¡¯s defence minister and long-time parliamentarian, Mahalanabis, who returned from the US to serve in the 1971 Bangladesh war refugee camps, and Jairam were given the honour posthumously.
Yadav¡¯s son and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister, Akhilesh Yadav, who came wearing the Samajwadi Party¡¯s trademark red cap, received the award on his behalf. In contrast, Mahalanabis¡¯ award was received by his nephew Susham Gupta, and Jairam¡¯s award was received by his sister Uma Mani.
Sudha Murty¡¯s husband and Infosys co-founder N R Narayana Murthy sat among other guests and family members.
Music director M M Keeravaani recently bagged India¡¯s first Oscar for an original song for the ¡®RRR¡¯ song ¡®Naatu Naatu¡¯, and Bollywood actor Raveena Tandon was among those who received the Padma Shri.
Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, several Union ministers, and other guests were at the function.
In their traditional dress and headgear, Ramesh Parmar and Shanti Parmar of Madhya Pradesh, who make dolls using recycled cloth, got emotional as they touched Prime Minister Modi¡¯s feet. Gujarati folk artist Paresh Rathwa was also overwhelmed with emotions as he greeted the prime minister by touching his feet.
At least six awardees, including veteran Bidri craft artist Shah Rasheed Ahmed Quadri from Karnataka, a traditional artist from Maharashtra, Parshuram Komaji Khune, and Ramkuiwangbe Jeme Newme, a social worker from Assam, shook hands with Modi.
The President took a few steps forward to give the award to Antaryami Mishra, an educationist from Odisha, and Ishwar Chander Verma, a doctor from Delhi. Both of them are in wheelchairs.
On this year's Republic Day eve, Murmu approved 106 Padma awards, including three given to two people. When this happens, the award is only counted as one.
One more Padma Vibhushan awardee, US-based scientist S. R. Srinivasa Varadhan, remained absent.
The other distinguished personalities were given the awards on March 22.
Padma awards are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. India¡¯s top civilian honour, the Bharat Ratna, has not been given to anyone since 2019.
The awards are given in various disciplines and activities such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service.
The country's second-highest civilian award, the Padma Vibhushan, is given for outstanding and distinguished service. The Padma Bhushan is given for distinguished service of a high order, and the Padma Shri is given for distinguished service in any field.
Many of the awardees are unsung heroes who have been silently working for the betterment of society and people and whom the Narendra Modi government has been honouring ever since it came to power in 2014, officials said.?
(With PTI inputs)
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