President RN Kovind confers Padma awards to 64 personalities

New Delhi, March 21: President Ram Nath Kovind conferred Padma awards to 64 personalities of India for their contributions in various fields of national affairs and benevolent activities. Veteran publisher and President of Gita Press Gorakhpur Radhey Shyam Khemka was awarded Padma Vibhushan (Posthumously) received by his son. First CDS of Indian Forces General Bipin Rawat was among the four Padma Vibhushan awardees. His daughters received the award, as General Rawat died in Mi17 IAF air crash in Coonoor (Kerala) on December 8 along with his wife and 12 others.

A very nostalgic scene was witnessed by the guest in the Hall when 128-year-old Yoga Guru of Varanasi, Swami Sivananda was called and he bowed to prime Minister Modi on his way to the podium. He was awarded Padma Sri by the President. Two other Padma Vibhushan Awards were social activist Prabha Atre and former CM of Uttar Pradesh Kalyan Singh (posthumous).

Senior Congress leader and former Chief Minister of the erstwhile state of Jammu and Kashmir Ghulam Nabi Azad was conferred with the Padma Bhushan award at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The veteran leader was awarded for his work in public affairs by President Ram Nath Kovind. Many other prominent figures were awarded for exemplary work in their respective fields. Para Javelin thrower who won silver at Tokyo Paralympics Devendra Jhajharia and India’s first female Paralympic gold medalist para-shooter Avani Lekhara received the Padma Bhushan award in the field of sports. Indian women’s hockey stalwart Vanadna Kataria received Padma Shri. She is the first Indian woman to score a hat-trick in hockey at the Olympics in Tokyo. Other prominent awardees include Indian film director Chandraprakash Dwivedi n Cinema, Serum Institute of India’s MD Cyrus Poonawalla in the field of Trade & Industry, and Sachidanand Swami for his work in Literature and Education.

The Padma awards are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri and given in various disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. This year, a total of 128 Padma Awards are being conferred in a two-part ceremony. The second ceremony is scheduled for March 28. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.

Another Padma Sri awardee, 108-year-old Sachidanand Swami was honored for his contribution in the fields of education and literature.  (UNI)