India has accorded the Padma Bhusan award to veteran journalist and an outspoken supporter of press freedom Kuldip Nayar.
The Indian government on Friday named 112 prominent personalities, such as President of Djibouti Ismail Omar Guelleh, L&T Chairman AM Naik, late actor Kader Khan, and cricketer Gautam Gambhir as the recipient of this year’s Padma awards, reports Tribune India.
Nayar, also a well-known writer known for his stand on secularism, human rights and liberty, died on August 23 last year at his Delhi residence after a prolonged spell of age-related ailments. He was 95.
Folk artists Teejan Bai, Guelleh, Naik and theatre actor Balwant Moreshwar Purandare will be honoured with the Padma Vibushan, former Comptroller and Auditor General V K Shunglu, former Union Minister Kariya Munda, Akali leader SS Dhindsa were named for the Padma Bhushan.
Former CEO of CISCO Systems John Chambers, South African anti-Apartheid Leader Pravin Gordhan, iconic face of MDH spices Mahashay Dharam Pal Gulati, Malayalam actor Mohan Lal, founder President of Saraswati Nadi Shodh Sansthan, Darshan Lal Jain were among the 14 renowned individuals named for the Padma Bhushan, the Home Ministry announced.
Late actor Kader Khan, Sikh riot activist HS Phoolka, cricketer Gautam Gambhir, dancer and choreographer Prabhu Deva, and former diplomat S Jaishankar are among 94 people named for Padma Shree.
President of India will confer the awards at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year.
This year the President has approved conferment of 112 Padma Awards including one duo case (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises four Padma Vibhushan, 14 Padma Bhushan and 94 Padma Shri Awards.
A total of 21 of the awardees are women and the list also includes 11 people from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 3 posthumous awardees and one transgender person.