Bangalore, Jan 26 (DHNS):  Eminent doctors, scientists, a head of a religious math and theatre exponent among others from the Karnataka figured in the list of Padma awards announced on Monday. 

 Here is a brief profile and initial reaction of some of the Padma awardees.

Arundhati Nag

Arundhati Nag is a well-known in the field of theatre and art in the country. She founded Ranga Shankara, the dream project of her late husband and actor, Shankar Nag. So far more than 2,000 shows of different plays have been staged in the theatre.

Arundhati Nag is also an acclaimed actress. “The award vindicated the work we have done all these years. It is a celebration for all those behind successful 2,000 shows in Ranga Shankara”, she said.

Dr Ramana Rao

The physician has been offering health care to rural people free of cost for last 36 years. A post-graduate from Bangalore Medical College, he visits his farm house in Begur, 33 km from Bangalore to treat rural masses every week. Rao was Kannada thespian Raj Kumar’s consulting physician.

Ramana Rao said the honour was blessings of every patient he treated in his career. “I am happy. The honour has made me more humble. It has multiplied my responsibility towards my rural service”, he said.

Prof M R Satyanarayana Rao

Prof M R Satyanarayana Rao is president of the Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research (JNCASR).  He was earlier with the Department of Biochemistry, Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bangalore.

 Prof Rao was the first scientist in the country to set up the Chromatin Biology Lab. Prof Rao said his team was working on cancer genomics. “We are working on new tools for understanding brain tumour,” he added.

Dr Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath

Dr Vijayalakshmi Ravindranath, chairperson of the newly established Centre for Neurosciences at IISc has been working on research to understand the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s.

“I hope our lab will soon come out with a cure to brain disorder and discovering disease modifying therapies,” she said.

Balagangadharanath Swami
Adichunchanagiri Mutt

The Swami is the pontiff of Adichunchanagiri Mutt in Mandya district. The mutt has been into many social service including disseminating education to masses.