On Republic Day eve, a moment of national pride swept through India as the Home Ministry released the 2024 Padma Awards roster. Boasting 5 Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri honorees, the list celebrates extraordinary achievements in diverse fields from every corner of the country and beyond.
Leading the pack are Padma Vibhushan awardees: Dharmendra (posthumous, arts, Maharashtra), the veteran Bollywood icon whose films defined generations; KT Thomas (public affairs, Kerala); N Rajam (arts, Uttar Pradesh); P Narayanan (literature-education, Kerala); and VS Achyutanandan (posthumous, public affairs, Kerala). Their contributions have left indelible marks on society.
Padma Bhushan highlights include Alka Yagnik’s melodic voice (arts, Maharashtra), political heavyweight Bhagat Singh Koshyari (public affairs, Uttarakhand), medical innovator Kallipatti Ramasami Palaniswami (medicine, Tamil Nadu), and Mammootty’s silver screen dominance (arts, Kerala). Piyush Pandey’s creative genius (posthumous, arts, Maharashtra), Shibu Soren’s tribal leadership (posthumous, public affairs, Jharkhand), banking titan Uday Kotak (trade-industry, Maharashtra), and Vijay Amritraj’s tennis prowess (sports, USA) add star power.
The Padma Shri category bursts with talent: science pioneers like AE Muthunayagam (Kerala), artists such as Anil Kumar Rastogi (Uttar Pradesh) and Bhiklya Ladkya Dhinda (Maharashtra), social crusaders including Brij Lal Bhat (J&K) and Dr. Budhri Tati (Chhattisgarh), and athletes like Baldev Singh (Punjab, sports) and Savita Punia (Haryana, sports). Duos like the Balasubramaniam twins (Tamil Nadu, arts) and Godbole couple (Chhattisgarh, medicine) showcase collaborative brilliance. Global names like Pratik Sharma (USA, medicine) and Vladimir Mestvirishvili (posthumous, sports, Georgia) reflect India’s diaspora impact.
From Arunachal Pradesh’s Techi Gubin (social work) to Nagaland’s Sanyusang S Pongenener (arts), the list embodies India’s federal spirit. Posthumous tributes to figures like Garimella Balakrishna Prasad (Andhra Pradesh, arts) ensure legacies endure.
These awards, instituted in 1954, symbolize India’s democratic ethos of rewarding merit over fame. As recipients prepare for the investiture, the nation reflects on paths paved by these visionaries, setting benchmarks for future generations.
