President Confers Padma Awards on Sri Sri, Anupam Kher and Saina

President Pranab Mukherjee confers Padma awards on this year’s recipients.

The spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar. (Photo Courtesy: Wikimedia Commons)

President Pranab Mukherjee gave away the prestigious Padma awards on Monday, according to the announcement made by the government, to notable personalities like Sri Sri Ravishankar – who was recently in a controversy over his World Culture Festival – actor Anupam Kher and badminton ace Saina Nehwal. Here’s a look at how they first reacted when the names were announced.

Padma Vibhushan:

• Actor Rajinikanth
  

• Media baron Ramoji Rao
  

• Former J&K Governor Jagmohan
  

• Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
  
• Reliance Industries founder late Dhirubhai Ambani
  VK Aatre, Former DRDO chief
  Dr V Shanta, Cancer specialist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute
  Yamini Krishnamurthi, Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer
  Girija Devi, Classical vocalist
  Avinash Dixit, Indian-American economist
  

Padma Bhushan:

• Former CAG Vinod Rai
  
• Actor Anupam Kher
  

• Singer Udit Narayan
  

Felt very happy when I got this news. I couldn’t believe if it was for real.

• Former US Ambassador to India Robert D Blackwill
  
• Badminton player Saina Nehwal

• Tennis player Sania Mirza
  

• Indu Jain of Bennett, Coleman & Co
  Late Swami Dayanand Saraswati, Spiritual leader
  Swami Tejomayananda, Spiritual leader
  Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, Industrialist
  RC Bhargava, Maruti Suzuki Chairman
  Hafeez Contractor, Architect
  Ram V Sutar, Sculptor
  Heisnam Kanhailal, Manipuri theatre personality
  Yarlagadda Lakshmi Prasad, Writer
  NS Ramanuja Tatacharya, Sanskrit scholar
  Barjinder Singh Hamdard, Punjabi journalist
  D Nageshwar Reddy, Gastroenterologist

Padma Shri

• 26/11 public prosecutor Ujjwal Nikam
  
• Actor Ajay Devgn
  

I feel deeply humbled yet elated to receive such honor from my own country. This announcement today makes it special for me when I’m filming abroad for my new film Shivaay. I’d like to acknowledge that Padma Samman puts an extra responsibility on me and I promise to serve my country for as long as I can.

• Actor Priyanka Chopra
  

• AV Rama Rao, Scientist
  
• Late Saeed Jaffrey
  
• Ajaypal Singh Banga, CEO of MasterCard
  
• Archer Deepika Kumari
  
• Prathibha Prahlad, Bharatanatyam dancer
  
• Bhikhudan Gadhvi, Gujarati folk musician Tulsidas Borkar, Goan musician
  
• Onkar Nath Srivastava, Scientist
  

Also Read: Rajinikanth, Priyanka Chopra, Anupam Kher among Padma Winners

Padma Awards are one of the highest civilian awards of the country which are given by the President of India.

The awards are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

The awards are given in various disciplines or fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc.

‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.