Planning Commission Deputy Chairperson Montek Singh Ahluwalia, the former National Security Advisor, Brajesh Mishra, Wipro chief Azim Premji, Telugu film celebrity A. Nageshwara Rao, Art historian Kapila Vatsyayan, India's first woman news photographer Homai Vyarawalla and the former Attorney-General, K. Parasaran, are among this year's 13 Padma Vibhushan awardees. The Padma Vibhushan, which is India's second highest civilian honour, has been conferred posthumously on Gandhian and freedom fighter Lakshmi Chand Jain
Last year, Mr. Mishra, who was Principal Secretary to Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee, missed getting a Padma despite a recommendation from the Prime Minister's Office.
Actress of yesteryear Waheeda Rahman (Padma Bhushan) and cricketer V.V.S. Laxman (Padma Shri) are among the 128 men and women who have made it to the Padma awards list this year.
