President Murmu Confers Padma Awards 2025; Cricketer R. Ashwin Honoured with Padma Shri, Hockey Star Sreejesh Receives Padma Bhushan

 New Delhi (The Uttam Hindu): President Draupadi Murmu gave away the Padma Awards for 2025 at Rashtrapati Bhavan. In the first Padma ceremony of the year, 71 personalities were honoured with Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. These awards are considered the highest civilian honours of the country, given for outstanding contribution in various fields like art, social work, science, medicine, public affairs, business and industry. Padma Awards are given in three categories – Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan.

 In the field of art, South film actor Ajit and director Shekhar Kapoor were awarded Padma Bhushan. Ghazal singer Pankaj Udhas was posthumously awarded Padma Bhushan. His wife Farida received the award. Singer Jaspinder Narula was awarded Padma Shri by President Draupadi Murmu for his contribution in the field of art.

Cricketer R Ashwin was awarded Padma Shri, hockey player Sreejesh was awarded Padma Bhushan. Kuwait's yoga teacher Sheikha Ali was also awarded Padma Shri in the medical field.

 Para athletics coach Dr. Satyapal Singh was awarded Padma Shri by President Draupadi for his contribution in the field of sports.

96-year-old puppet artist Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shilekyathara was awarded Padma Shri for her contribution in the field of art.

Vedic scholar Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid was awarded the Padma Shri by President Draupadi Murmu. He had decided the auspicious time for the Bhoomi Pujan and Prana Pratishtha of Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Temple in Ayodhya and Kashi Vishwanath Temple in Varanasi.

 Kuwaiti Sheikha Sheikha Ali Al-Jaber Al-Sabah, a pioneer in yoga education , received the Padma Shri award for her contribution in the field of medicine.

Padma Vibhushan – M. T. Vasudevan Nair (posthumously)

In this series, President Draupadi Murmu honoured the famous Malayalam writer M. T. Vasudevan Nair, film director, screenwriter, editor and speaker, with Padma Vibhushan for his unique contribution to Malayalam language, literature and cinema. Let us tell you that MT Vasudevan Nair was also honoured with the highest decoration of Amar Ujala Shabd Samman, 'Akashdeep'.

Padma Vibhushan – Dr. Duvvur Nageswara Reddy

Eminent gastroenterologist from Telangana Dr. Duvvur Nageswara Reddy was awarded the Padma Vibhushan for his groundbreaking clinical advancements and pioneering medical research in endoscopy.

Dr. Lakshminarayana Subramaniam

awarded Padma Vibhushan by President Draupadi Murmu for his special contribution in the field of art and music. Dr. Subramaniam is a renowned violinist. He is well versed in Carnatic and Western music and is also known for his unique style in the field of music.

Padma Vibhushan – Osamu Suzuki (posthumously)

On the other hand, the late Japanese industrialist Osamu Suzuki, who was the former head of Suzuki Motor Corporation, has been awarded India's second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan posthumously (in trade and industry). Let us tell you that Osamu Suzuki considered India as his second home. His son and Suzuki Motor CEO Toshihiro Suzuki received this award from President Draupadi Murmu at a ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Padma Bhushan - Vinod Kumar Dham

Vinod Kumar Dham is an American businessman and technologist who has been awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to science and engineering. Indian-American engineer Vinod Dham, also known as the 'Father of the Pentium Chip'.

Nandamuri Balakrishna awarded Padma Bhushan

Nandamuri Balakrishna, renowned Telugu actor and politician from Andhra Pradesh was awarded the Padma Bhushan for his contribution to Indian cinema and public life. Nandamuri Balakrishna has left an indelible mark on Indian cinema and politics in his career spanning five decades.