The Centre announced the names of Padma awardees 2023 on the eve of Republic Day. President Droupadi Murmu approved the list of 106 awards. It includes six Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan, and 91 Padma Shri awards. The list includes nineteen female awardees and two persons from the category of Foreigners.
Some of the prominent names in the list include Golden Globe award winner music composer M.M. Keeravani, former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Mulayam Singh Yadav (posthumous), investor Rakesh Jhunjhunwala (posthumous), former Karnataka Chief Minister S.M. Krishna, architect Balkrisha Doshi (posthumous), Tabla maestro Zakir Hussain, Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) icon Dilip Mahalanabis.
Some of the prominent Padma Bhushan recipients include entrepreneur and author Sudha Murthy, S.L. Bhyrappa, Kumar Mangalam Birla, and Deepak Dhar. 91 people from various fields such as physician Ratan Chandra Kar, Hirabai Lobi, Ghulam Muhammad Zaz, and Tula Ram have been selected for the Padma Shri. Ratan Chandra Kar is known for his contributions to the betterment of the Jarawa tribe of Andaman while Hirabai Lobi is a tribal social worker who has dedicated her life to improving the lives of the Siddi community in Gujarat. The 98-year-old Tula Ram Upreto practises organic farming using traditional methods. Ghulam Muhammad Zas from Jammu & Kashmir is a last-gen Santoor maker.
History of Padma Awards:
The Padma Awards are the highest civilian honours in India after the Bharat Ratna. The Padma awards recognise outstanding recognition in various fields such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, literature and education, trade and industry, medicine, sports, and civil service. They are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The first one is for exceptional and distinguished service while the second one is conferred to civilians who offer distinguished service of higher order. The Padma Shri awards are given for distinguished service.
The Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan were introduced in 1954. The Padma Awards looks to “recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved,” says the Padma Awards website. An exceptional award, Bharat Ratna has so far been given only to 45 people. Padma Awards are annually given to deserving civilians. Every year, the names of the recipients are announced on Republic Day eve. The President of India will distribute the awards at a function in Rashtrapati Bhawan in March or April.
