Padma Awards 2025: Government announces first list of Padma Shri awardees…
The Union government unveiled the first list of Padma Award winners on Saturday, ahead of the 76th Republic Day celebrations. The list honors a diverse group of unsung heroes, including a 100-year-old freedom fighter, a fruit farmer from Noklak, and a Paralympian, among others.
Notably, Harvinder Singh, a para-archer from Kaithal, Haryana, who is affectionately known as “Kaithal ka Eklavya,” made history by becoming the first Indian to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.
Libia Lobo Sardesai, a prominent figure in Goa’s freedom struggle, has also been conferred the Padma Shri for her pivotal role in co-establishing an underground radio station, ‘Voz da Liberdade’ (Voice of Freedom), in 1955 to rally against Portuguese colonial rule.
The list further includes Neerja Bhatla, a Delhi-based gynecologist renowned for her work in cervical cancer detection and prevention, and Bhim Singh Bhavesh, a social worker from Bhojpur, who has dedicated over two decades to supporting the marginalized Musahar community through his foundation, Nayee Asha.
P Datchanamoorthy, a distinguished expert in the South Indian classical percussion instrument Thavil with over 50 years of experience, and L Hangthing, a fruit farmer from Noklak, Nagaland, who has spent over three decades cultivating non-native fruits, have both been honored with the Padma Shri.
Other notable recipients include:
- Jagdish Joshila, a Nimadi and Hindi author from Khargone with more than 50 years of literary contribution.
- Hugh and Colleen Gantzer, a husband and wife duo, recognized for their decades-long contribution to Indian travel journalism.
- Jonas Masetti, a Brazilian mechanical engineer turned Hindu spiritual leader, who has significantly promoted Indian spirituality and culture abroad.
- Hariman Sharma, an apple farmer from Bilaspur, credited with developing ‘HRMN 99’, a low-chilling apple variety that thrives at 1,800 feet above sea level.
- Shaikha A J Al Sabah, a yoga practitioner from Kuwait, who founded Daratma, the country’s first licensed yoga studio.
- Naren Gurung, a versatile folk artist from Gangtok, who has spent 60 years preserving and promoting Sikkimese Nepali folk music and dance.
- Bheru Singh Chouhan, a prolific Nirgun folk singer, dedicated to bhajan music for over five decades.
- Jumde Yomgam Gamlin, a tireless advocate for deaddiction and social reform in local communities for over 30 years.
