The world famous yoga guru, B.K.S. Iyengar, and the former chief of the Council of Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), R.A. Mashelkar, have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan, India’s second highest civilian honour.
Mr. Iyengar (95), who founded the Iyengar school of yoga that has millions of followers across the globe including in China, was once named by TIME magazine as one of the 100 most influential persons in the world.
The 71-year-old Mr. Mashelkar has played a significant role in evolving science and technology policies in post-liberalised India. A chemical engineer, he is also a former head of the Indian Council of Agricultural Research.
He has made significant contribution to raise awareness of patents in India.
PTI adds
Parveen Sultana, Ruskin Bond, J.S. Verma, Vairamuthu, Paes to get Padma Bhushan
Classical singer Begum Parveen Sultana, Justice Dalvir Bhandari, author Ruskin Bond, the former Chief Justice of India J.S. Verma, former Comptroller and Auditor General V.N. Kaul, renowned novelist Anita Desai, and Tamil lyricist Vairamuthu are among the 25 people selected for this year’s Padma Bhushan.
Lyricist Vairamuthu, who holds the unique honour of receiving the President’s award for lyricist six times, said he was happy about receiving the Padma Bhushan.
Seventy-six-year old Desai was shortlisted thrice for Booker Prize. She has been selected for her contribution in the field of literature and education.
Cine stars Paresh Rawal and Vidya Balan, sand artist Sudarsan Pattnaik, theatre artist Bansi Kaul, Chairperson of the Chennai-based Tractors and Farm Equipment (TAFE) Mallika Srinivasan, P. Kilemsungla, and Union Minister Sharad Pawar’s brother Pratap Govindrao Pawar, owner of Sakal newspaper group, have been chosen for the Padma Shri.
“It is a matter of pride for the team [in TAFE],’’ said Ms. Srinivasan. “We accept this with pride and humility.’’ The award would inspire “us to build the company into a global one’’ with the focus on improving the lot of the farming community. “Our thrust will be on developing rural India,’’ she said.
Ms Kilemsungla, the first woman from Nagaland to be appointed member of the Union Public Service Commission, has been awarded Padma Shri for her contribution to the field of literature and education.
Among the other Padma Shri awardees are tabla player Vijay Ghate, filmmaker and cinematographer Santosh Sivan, theatre personality Mohammad Ali Baig, TV actress Nayana Apte Joshi, musician Musafir Ram Bhardwaj, Manipuri dancer Elam Endira Devi, Kathak dancer from Bengal Rani Karnaa, film animator Ram Mohan, dancer Kalamandalam Sathyabhama and former UPSC member Parveen Talha. Ms Talha was the first ever Muslim woman to enter any Class-I civil service through the Civil Services examination. She was also the first Muslim woman to be appointed UPSC member.
In sports, tennis star Leander Paes and badminton player-turned-coach Pullela Gopichand have been selected for the Padma Bhushan, while cricketer Yuvraj Singh is among the seven sportspersons chosen for the Padma Shri. Leander Paes, 40, winner of the Rajiv Gandhi Khel Ratna and Arjuna Awards, is the most successful tennis player of the country with 14 Grand Slam titles. He also won India’s first Olympic medal in singles at the Atlanta Games in 1996 — a bronze.
Gopichand, one of the finest badminton players in the country, is the second renowned sportsperson to be conferred the Padma Bhushan this year.
Squash player Dipika Pallikal, former Indian women’s cricket captain Anjum Chopra, Sunil Dabas (kabaddi), Love Raj Singh Dharmshaktu and Mamta Sodha (mountaineering), and H. Boniface Prabhu (wheelchair tennis) are the other sportspersons selected for the Padma Shri. Dharmshaktu has climbed Mount Everest five times. He won the Tenzing Norgey National Adventure Award in 2003. Boniface Prabhu is one of the pioneers of wheelchair tennis in India. He has competed in all major Grand Slam Wheelchair Tennis Championships.
