From UP's Sharif Chacha To Karnataka Orange Vendor, Meet The 'Extraordinary' Padma Recipients

The Padma Awards for 2021 were conferred by the President of India at an event at the Rashtrapathi Bhavan in New Delhi.

This year's list of Padma Awards includes seven Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan, and 102 Padma Shri Awards, of which 29 awardees are women, 16 posthumous awardees, and one transgender awardee.

Among those honored by the county are some ordinary Indians who have done extraordinary works for society.

Rahibai Soma Popere

Rahibai Soma Popere, a tribal farmer, received the Padma Shri Award, in the field of agriculture, from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday.

Popere, also known as the 'seed mother', is a farmer from Mahadeo Koli, a tribal community from the Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Smt. Rahibai Soma Popere for Agriculture. Popularly known as 'Seed Mother', she is a tribal farmer from Mahadeo Koli, Tribal community from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra. pic.twitter.com/IKFeaROoVQ

¡ª President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

"President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Smt. Rahibai Soma Popere for Agriculture. Popularly known as 'Seed Mother', she is a tribal farmer from Mahadeo Koli, Tribal community from Ahmednagar district of Maharashtra," tweeted Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Mohammad Shareef

Mohammad Shareef, a social worker, received the Padma Shri award from President Ram Nath Kovind on Monday.

Shareef, a cycle mechanic turned social worker, performs the last rites of unclaimed dead bodies.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Mohammad Shareef for Social Work. He is a cycle mechanic turned social worker. He performs last rites of unclaimed dead bodies of all religions with full dignity. pic.twitter.com/ccJlTIsqNH

¡ª President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

Sharif took to social service after his own son Raees was murdered while on his way to Sultanpur in 1992. His body lay unclaimed near railway tracks and was devoured by stray dogs.

According to Sharif, his son, who worked as a chemist, went missing when he went to Sultanpur district for some work. It was the time when communal tension was at its peak over Babri Masjid-Ram Janmbhoomi issue. Later, it was discovered that his son lost his life during the communal riots. His body was found near the railway tracks.

Tulsi Gowda

Tulsi Gowda, an environmentalist, received the Padma Shri award from the President of India on Monday.

Gowda, who is from Honnali village in Karnataka, had planted more than 30,000 saplings and takes care of the nurseries of the forest department.

Tulasi Gowda, Encyclopedia of Forests

Gowda belongs to Halakki Tribal in Karnataka and is also known as the Encyclopedia of Forest due to her vast knowledge of diverse species of plants and herbs.

Harekala Hajabba

Harekala Hajabba, a simple man who built a school by selling oranges on the streets was conferred with prestigious Padma Shri on Monday.

The Mangaluru resident had dreamt of building a school and kept aside a portion of paltry income that came from selling oranges.

His father was a sand miner while his mother used to roll beedis. Hajabba, who still sells oranges, decided to build the school after he couldn't understand what a foreigner was telling him.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Shri Harekala Hajabba for Social Work. An orange vendor in Mangalore, Karnataka, he saved money from his vendor business to build a school in his village. pic.twitter.com/fPrmq0VMQv

¡ª President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

Hajabba, who sells oranges at Mangaluru bus depot since 1977, is illiterate and has never been to school. The desire to bring revolution in education in his village came to his mind in 1978 when a foreigner asked him the cost of orange.

"As I could not communicate with the foreigner, I felt bad and decided to build a school in the village," the Padma Awardee told ANI.

"I only know Kannada, not English or Hindi. So I was depressed as I could not help the foreigner. I wondered about constructing a school in my village," he added.

His dream of constructing a school was realised only after two decades.

Hajabba earned Rs 75 everyday from selling fruits and provided for a family of five. Despite that, he managed to save money and with the help of locals and a madrassa committee, built the school in 2001.

Himmatram Bhambhu

Himmatram Bhambhu from Rajasthan's Nagaur district has not just raised a forest with 11,000 trees on 25 bigha land in a village near Nagaur but has planted more than five lakh trees in five years.

Meet padmashri Himmatram bhambhu, planted 5.5 lakh saplings all across Rajasthan. You may not have known him if it was not for Modi sarkaar to recognise real heroes of India. pic.twitter.com/49wr2142Ec

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His fights for saving the environment includes taking cudgels on behalf of the wild animals against hunters and poachers and being more vigilant than the Forest Department. Bhambhu was conferred the Padma Shri on Monday.

Dr Kushal Konwar

'Elephant Man of India' or the 'elephant surgeon' Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma, a veterinarian and Professor of Surgery and Radiology at the College of Veterinary Science in Assam.

For more than a decade, he has treated 600 plus elephants and saved 140 rogue bull elephants. He was conferred the Padma Shri on Monday.

President Kovind presents Padma Shri to Dr Kushal Konwar Sarma for Medicine. Dr Sarma is widely recognised as the "Elephant Man of Asia", and is known for his work in the field of wildlife healthcare, management and conservation. pic.twitter.com/32TGv6Qxnl

¡ª President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) November 8, 2021

The Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian honours of India announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. The Awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The award seeks to recognize achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.

The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations made by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.

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