Imphal: Three Manipuri among eight from the northeastern region were named for the country’s fourth-highest civilian award – Padma Shri – on Tuesday, on the eve of the 73rd Republic Day.
This is the first time that three renowned personalities in various fields have been named for the award in the same year.
Padma Awards, one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories — Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.
The Centre announced the list of recipients of the Padma awards on Tuesday.
Shakuntala Choudhary -Social Work -Assam; Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia —Art – Sikkim; Lourembam Bino Devi, Art– Manipur; Muktamani Devi Trade and Industry – Manipur; Dhaneswar Engti – Literature and Education – Assam; V L Nghaka – Literature and Education – Mizoram; Konsam Ibomcha Singh – Art – Manipur and Badaplin War -Literature and Education – Meghalaya were among the 107 individuals who were announced by the government.
Among other honours, General Bipin Rawat, India’s first Chief of Defence Staff who was killed last year in a helicopter crash, and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Kalyan Singh have been awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
The Padma Bhushan will be conferred on Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azad, Microsoft CEO Satya Madella, Alphabet EO Sundar Pichai and SII MD Cyrus Poonawalla, Covaxin maker Bharat Biotech chairman Krishna Ella, his co-founder wife Suchitra Ella will be awarded Padma Bhushan.
Moreover, former West Bengal Chief minister Budhadeb Bhattacharjee will also get the Padma Bhushan.
