Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi
New Delhi, May 27: In a glittering function at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu presented the second tranche of the 2025 Padma Awards to 68 distinguished individuals whose pioneering work spans the arts, literature, education, public service, medicine, social welfare, science, sports, and industry. The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar, and other senior officials.
The Padma Awards—India’s highest civilian honors—are bestowed in three tiers: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. Earlier this year, on the eve of Republic Day, 139 recipients were announced; this phase recognized 3 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awardees, including 13 posthumous honors.
A poignant highlight was the posthumous Padma Vibhushan for legendary folk singer Dr. Sharda Sinha, celebrated for her soulful Chhath and devotional songs. Her son, Anshuman Sinha, accepted the award on her behalf. Also conferred Padma Vibhushan were former Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and renowned classical dancer Kumudini Lakhia (posthumous).
Among the Padma Bhushan winners were social activist Sadhvi Ritambhara, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, and journalist-author A. Surya Prakash. Posthumous Bhushan honors went to iconic figures such as singer Pankaj Udhas, politician Manohar Joshi, economist Bibek Debroy, literary giant M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Japanese industrialist Osamu Suzuki, whose vision shaped Suzuki’s India partnership.
The Padma Shri roster featured 57 trailblazers, from playback singer Arijit Singh and cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin to author Pratibha Satpathy, ex-SBI Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya, and violin maestro Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. The list also included ten global honorees—foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs—underscoring India’s appreciation for international contributions.
Women comprised 23 of the awardees, reflecting the growing spotlight on female achievers. Many recipients are grassroots innovators and unsung heroes from India’s hinterlands, embodying the Padma Awards’ evolution into a “people’s honor” that values meaningful service over mere fame.
By celebrating such a diverse array of talents, this ceremony reinforces the government’s “nation first, people first” ethos and India’s rich tapestry of cultural, scientific, and humanitarian excellence.