Kumar Mangalam Birla, Sudha Murty, Mulayam Singh Yadav, late Rakesh Jhunjhunwala, actor Raveena Tandon were among 106 Padma Award winners this year. According to the official statement, the President of India has approved the conferment of the prestigious awards. The development comes ahead of the Republic Day celebrations tomorrow.
The Padma Award list for the year 2023 includes 91 Padma Shri, 6 Padma Vibhushan and 9 Padma Bhushan. The final list also consists of seven individuals, who have been awarded posthumously. The list also includes two NRIs. Of the total 106 winners, 19 of them are women. Samajwadi Party patriarch (late) Mulayam Singh Yadav, Medical pioneer Dilip Mahalanabis, better known for his work for ORS are among those, who have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
Apart from ex-Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister, the country’s second highest civilian award has also been conferred upon tabla maestro Zakir Hussain and former UPA Minister SM Krishna.
The official statement released on the eve of Republic Day also confirmed that no one has been named for the Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian award. While Birla, Murty and novelist SL Bhyrappa are named for the Padma Bhushan awards, Bollywood actor Raveen Tandon, Rakesh Jhunjhunwala (posthumous) have been selected for the Padma Shri. The Padma Awards, announced every year on the eve of the Republic Day, will be conferred to the winners during a glittering ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April.
This year, there are several ‘unsung heros’, who have been awarded for their unflinching dedication for the society. Among them are Ratan Chandra Kar, a Retired government doctor based in Andaman who has been working with the Jarawa tribe in the Nicobar Islands and Naga social worker Ramkuiwangbe Newme who protected and promoted Heraka indigenous culture.
(With agency inputs)