Padma Awards 2021: Let's meet some of the winners and appreciate their work!

The recent Padma Awards 2021 held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on November 8, 2021, grabbed eyeballs within no time. Here are a few amongst many who won the awards for their appreciable contribution.

One thing doing rounds all over the mainstream and social media is the recent 'Padma Awards 2021' given by President Sri Ram Nath Kovind and the winners who won it for their best of the best work in their respective fields. Padma Awards are given in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. While 'Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional service, ‘Padma Bhushan’ is awarded for distinguished service of a high order, and ‘Padma Shri’ is given for distinguished service in any field. So, let's have a look at some of the winners of this year!

1. Tulsi Gowda

One must learn from the environmentalist Tulsi Gowda about how to carry one's culture everywhere as the Padma Shri winner was seen wearing the traditional clothes to the ceremony who received the award for her work. Belonging from Honnali village, Karnataka, Tulsi Gowda has planted more than 30,000 saplings and is actively involved in environmental conservation activities for the past six decades.

2. Dr. Padma Bandopadhyay

Another Padma Shri awardee is Air Marshal Dr. Padma Bandopadhyay. Born in Tirupati, Dr. Bandopadhyay is the retired Director of General Medical Services (Air Force) and has served the Indian Air Force for nearly four decades. You must know that she is the first woman in India to be promoted to the position of 'Air Marshall' and the second woman after Punita Arora to be promoted to a three-star rank.

3. Dr. Harish Chandra Verma

President Kovind also presented Padma Shri to Dr. Harish Chandra Verma, who is known for revolutionizing Physics education at schools. A Darbhanga, Bihar-native, Dr. Verma is a Physics educator and researcher who is popular for his book, 'Concepts of Physics'. He has been given the award for his contribution to Science and Engineering.

4. Lalbiakthanga Pachuau

The Mizoram-based journalist Lalbiakthanga Pachuau has also received the fourth-highest civilian award by President Kovind. You would be surprised to know that he is the oldest working journalist in India, aged 94 years old. He has been the editor of a Mizoram vernacular newspaper, 'Zoram Tlangau' in Aizawl since 1953 and has been given the award for his contribution in Literature and Education (Journalism).

5. Himmatram Bhambhu

From Nagaur, Rajasthan comes Himmatram Bhambhu, who is another Padma Shri awardee. He has created a forest with 11,000 trees on 25 bigha land in a village near Nagaur and has planted more than five lakh trees in five years.

6. Rani Rampal

The sportsperson Rani, who is the captain of India's women's Hockey team, has received Padma Shri from President Kovind. Belonging from the Kurukshetra district of Haryana, the captain has made the whole country proud by representing it in over 200 matches. Not only this, but she has also been a recipient of the Arjuna award.

7. Oinam Bembem Devi

You will be amazed to know that Oinam Bembem Devi is known as "Durga of Indian football". Born in Imphal, Manipur, she is the former captain of the Indian women's football team. After the ceremony, she also becomes the first Indian woman footballer to get the Padma Shri award.

8. Harekala Hajabba

The widely appreciated fruit seller on Twitter, Harekala Hajabba, is also one of the people to receive the prestigious award. You will be amazed to know that this Mangalore-resident spent his whole life building a school with his mere earnings.

9. Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh

Keeping tradition alive is a major achievement, and Madhu Mansuri Hasmukh received the award for his contribution in the field. The 1948-born folk singer's song, 'Gaon Chhodab Nahi’ had got him famous for promoting his region in Jharkhand.

10. Professor K.S. Manilal 

The botanist and taxonomist from Kerala  Professor K.S. Manilal has also received the honour for his remarkable work in his field. His translation and annotation of Hendrik van Rheede’s 17th century Latin botanical treatise and documentation of extensive details of Kerala’s 700 indigenous plants and discovery of 14 species along with his students, has got him the Padma Shri.

11. Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor

Another recipient on the list is Kerala-born Sathyanarayanan Mundayoor, who is a former revenue officer turned educationist. He has been recognized for his efforts in starting 13 libraries and the Home Library Movement in the remotest villages in Arunachal Pradesh. He has also been spreading awareness among tribal kids about reading habits.

12. V.K. Munusamy

You must know about V.K. Munusamy, who is a terracotta artist to receive one of the highest honours. Belonging from Villianur village, near Puducherry, Munusamy is popular for making miniatures as small as 1.5 inches and dramatic life-size terracotta statues.

13. Bata Krishna Sahoo

Hailing from Odisha, the fish farmer Bata Krishna Sahoo is also one of the Padma Shri recipients this time. He has trained several college students and farmers in spawn production (eggs of aquatic animals) by traditional breeding methods and he has done it with his own money!

Apart from these winners, many other personalities won the Padma awards for their work in art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

Source: The Indian Express and Sambad

Also Read: B’Town actress Kangana Ranaut will open a cafe and restaurant in Manali soon!

For more such stories follow Local Samosa on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and Telegram.