The government selected 45 unsung heroes for the Padma Shri award.
Digital Desk, New Delhi. The 45 unsung heroes chosen by the government for the Padma Shri award range from a former bus conductor who established the world's largest free library to a 90-year-old player of a rare musical instrument. Anke Gowda, a one-time bus conductor, established the world's largest free library 'Pustak Mane' which has more than 20 lakh books and rare manuscripts in 20 languages.
75-year-old Gowda, a resident of Harlahalli village near Mysuru in Karnataka, has been selected for the Padma Shri for his unique efforts to empower readers across the country.
Pediatrician Armida Fernandez from Mumbai, Bundeli martial arts instructor Bhagwandas Raikwad from Madhya Pradesh, 90-year-old player of tribal instrument Tarpa and Maharashtra resident Bhikalya Ladkya Dhinda and eminent social activist from Jammu and Kashmir Brij Lal Bhat are among the unsung personalities who will be honored with the Padma Shri.
Armida Fernandez has created a bank in Asia for children deprived of mother's milk where lactating women donate milk. Continuing the principle of honoring ordinary Indians who have made extraordinary contributions, this year's Padma awards recognize a wide range of unsung heroes from all corners of India, sources said.
From conserving the native heritage of the border states and promoting national unity to promoting tribal languages, indigenous martial arts, endangered arts and weaving, protecting the ecological wealth of the country and supporting cleanliness, these have been selected for the honor this time. All these people actually symbolize the common Indians who are silently spending their daily lives in the service of the country.
The list also includes Budri Thati, who set up schools in Maoist-affected areas of Chhattisgarh, Santhali writer-musician Charan Hembram from Odisha, Chiranji Lal Yadav from Moradabad, an expert in intricate brass carvings, Dharmiclal Chunilal Pandya, an artist of 'Manbhatta', a traditional, spiritual and classical storytelling (Akhyan) art from Gujarat, and Kumarsamy Thangaraj, a geneticist from Hyderabad who traces human migration from Africa to India.
All of them have not only excelled in their chosen fields, despite facing immense difficulties and tragedies at the individual level, but have also contributed in wider service to the society. The honorees include people from marginalized, Dalit communities, primitive tribes and remote and inaccessible areas.
These are the people who have dedicated their entire lives to the service of the disabled, women, children, Dalits and tribals, working to promote health, education, livelihood, cleanliness, sustainability etc.
K of Puducherry. Pazhanivel has been selected for the Padma Shri for promoting the ancient Tamil weapon-based martial art Silambam. Senior journalist Kailash Chandra Pant, who has been working for the promotion of Hindi across India for more than 60 years, will be honored in the literature and education category.
Khem Raj Sundriyal of Haryana has been selected to preserve the Jamdani weaving technique and teach this technique to thousands of artisans in Haryana and Himachal Pradesh. Sundriyal revived Panipat 'Khes' with new designs and started using polyester thread in handloom.
(With inputs from news agency PTI)
Chyawanprash is a part of every Indian's life, it reduces diseases and increases energy.