D. Veerendra Heggade, Dharmadhikari of Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala and seer of Siddaganga Mutt, Tumakuru, Shivakumar Swami are among the seven persons from Karnataka selected for the Padma awards, announced by the Ministry of Home Affairs on Sunday. A total of 104 persons have been selected for Padma awards.
While Mr. Heggade has been awarded Padma Vibhushan for social work, Shivakumar Swami has been awarded Padma Bhushan under the ‘Others’ category.
Kharag Singh Valdiya, environmental geologist at the Jawaharalal Nehru Centre for Advanced Scientific Research, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his work in the field of Science and Engineering.
The four selected for Padma Shri are S. Arunan, senior scientist with Mars Orbiter Mission, Indian Space Research Organisation, S.K. Shivkumar, Director of the ISRO Satellite Centre, associated with Chandrayaan, Vasant Shastri, scientist, and T.V. Mohandas Pai, chairman of Manipal Global Education. Mr. Valdiya said, “I’m surprised. Silent workers are rarely honoured and I have kept a low-profile through my career. But the government has been gracious enough in recognising my contribution to geology and in the field of education.”
Mr. Shivkumar expressed his gratitude at being given the award. Mr. Pai was not available for comments.
‘Feel honoured’
Mangaluru Special Correspondent adds:
Mr. Heggade said he felt greatly honoured, and added that he would share the award with all the staff of the temple and Shri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Project. He said the award had boosted his morale for doing more social activities.
There was festive atmosphere in the temple town of Dharmasthala. Many temple staff and people from the town congratulated him on being selected for the award.
