India witnessed a day of pride and respect as President Droupadi Murmu adorned a group of distinguished individuals with the prestigious Padma awards in a grand ceremony. Among them was former Vice-President M. Venkaiah Naidu, who joined the ranks of esteemed awardees on Monday in an event that celebrated excellence and dedication across various fields.
Simultaneously, the nation celebrated the remarkable achievements of actor-turned-politician Mithun Chakraborty, celebrated singer Usha Uthup, and tennis star Rohan Bopanna, all of whom received the honor amidst a gathering of other notable names.
The ceremony marked a significant occasion as Padma Vibhushan, India’s second-highest civilian award, was posthumously awarded to Bindeshwar Pathak, founder of Sulabh International, recognized for his exceptional service in improving sanitation and social reforms in India. His wife, Amola Pathak, accepted the award on his behalf. Joining him in receiving this high honor were Bharatanatyam prodigy Padma Subrahmanyam and the former Vice-President, Mr. Naidu, both of whom have made indelible contributions to their respective domains.
The Padma Bhushan, the nation’s third-highest civilian honor, commended the works of figures such as Padma Bhushan awardee Ram Naik, industrialist Sitaram Jindal, and the unmistakable voice of Usha Uthup, as well as Mithun Chakraborty, affectionately known as Mithunda. This year’s recipients also included the likes of Gujarat’s acclaimed cardiologist Dr. Tejas Madhusudan Patel, respected Marathi filmmaker Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo, alias Rajdutt, and the dedicated physician Chandreshwar Prasad Thakur, who has extensively contributed to research and policies concerning Kala Azar.
The function was graced by Vice-President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, among other dignitaries.
Highlighting the diversity of this year’s honorees, the Padma Shri winners encompassed a vast array of talent and altruism. Renowned carpet weaver Khalil Ahamad, folk singer Kaluram Bamaniya, the mellifluous Bangladeshi singer Rezwana Choudhury Bannya, Chikankari embroidery artist Naseem Bano, and Rajbongshi folk singer Gita Roy Barman stood among the decorated personalities.
Further adorning the list, spiritual luminary Chitta Ranjan Debbarma, banker Kalpana Morparia, cultural philanthropist Kiran Nadar, social worker Gurvinder Singh, and Urmila Srivastava, a folk singer committed to preserving traditional music, were honored with Padma Shri awards.
A poignant moment unfurled as acclaimed Assamese folk dancer Drona Bhuyan, graced the red carpet with traditional Ojapali and Deodhani dance gestures to express his heartfelt thanks upon receiving the Padma Shri. Post-award, he respectfully touched the feet of Prime Minister Modi, who reciprocated the gesture warmly.
Drona Bhuyan’s recognition comes as a testament to his relentless effort in keeping alive a thousand-year-old tradition, whereby he performs stories from ancient epics and puranas in his home district of Darrang in Assam.
In addition, Sarbeswar Basumatary, a tribal farmer from Assam, humbly knelt in gratitude before receiving the award from the President, adding to the emotional gravity of the event.
The President has approved a total of 132 Padma awards for the year 2024, including two cases where the award is jointly conferred upon a duo counted as one. With nearly half of the awardees celebrated this week, anticipation climbs for next week’s event where the remainder will receive their honors. The Padma awards have once again demonstrated India’s penchant for acknowledging and embracing the outstanding achievements and contributions of its citizens across a spectrum of fields.
(With PTI inputs)
Indian cinema
