From India’s first female mahout to a specially abled social worker, the Centre on Thursday announced the names of 34 unsung heroes for the coveted Padma awards ahead of Republic Day. The awards honour the outstanding work carried out by unsung heroes away from the limelight.
FIRST FEMALE MAHOUT
Among those named for the Padma awards include Parbati Baruah, India’s first female elephant mahout, who broke the glass ceiling to create a space for herself in a field that has been traditionally dominated by males.
Baruah, who started her journey at the age of 14, played a vital role in saving and shaping the lives of many rogue elephants.
“She stood out for her commitment towards mitigating human-elephant conflict with the help of application of scientific practices and assisted three state governments to tackle and capture wild elephants,” the citation for Baruah, named “Hathi ki Pari”, mentioned.
TRIBAL WELFARE WORKER
Despite financial hardships, Jageshwar Yadav dedicated his life to the upliftment of the marginalised Birhor and Pahadi Korwa people in tribal-dominated Chhattisgarh.
Yadav, who has also been named for the Padma Shri, set up an ashram in Jashpur that works for eradicating illiteracy and elevating healthcare standards of tribals.
Named “Birhor ke Bhai”, Yadav also faciliated vaccinations during the Covid-19 pandemic and helped reduce infant mortality.
‘SERAIKELA KI SAHYOGI’
Jharkhand’s Chami Murmu, named “Seraikela ki Sahyogi”, will receive the Padma Shri for spearheading afforestation efforts and planting over 30 lakh plants in Seraikela Kharsawan district.
She also empowered over 30,000 women across 40 villages by setting up Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and providing employment. Murmu, 52, has also initiated programs to tackle anaemia and malnutrition.
She has also been a crusader against illegal logging, timber mafia and naxal activities.
SPECIALLY ABLED SOCIAL WORKER
Being paralysed waist down after being hit by a truck didn’t deter Haryana’s Gurvinder Singh from working for the betterment of the homeless, destitute, women, and orphans.
Named “Divyangjan ki Asha”, Singh has set up a child care institute for 300 children and also provided free ambulance services to over 6,000 accident victims and pregnant women.
A LOOK AT OTHER PADMA AWARDEES
Sathyanarayana Beleri, a rice farmer from Kerala’s Kasaragod, is also among those chosen for the Padma awards. Named “Seeding Sathya”, Beleri emerged as a “guardian of paddy crop” by preserving over 650 traditional rice varieties.
Through his innovative ‘Polybag method’, he has also conserved traditional seeds of arecanut, nutmeg and black pepper.
The 50-year-old Beleri has also been credited with introducing the ‘Rajakayame’ rice and boosting production across the southern states of Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu.
Named “Gaach Dadu” (gaach meaning tree in Bengali), Dukhu Majhi, 78, planted over 5,000 banyan, mango and blackberry trees on barren land in Bengal’s Purulia — all while traveling on his bicycle every day.
An organic famer from Andaman, K Chellammal, who studied till Class 6, has been recognised for her innovative and economical solutions to prevent damage to coconut and palm trees.
The 69-year-old has harvested over 27,000 coconuts per annum and cultivated 2 hectares of coconut plantation.
The others who have been chosen for the Padma awards are Sangthankima, who runs Mizoram’s largest orphanage, Hemchand Manjhi, a traditional medicine practitioner, Yanung Jamoh Lego, who has provided medical care to over 10,000 patients.
Somanna, a Karnataka tribal worker, Sarbeswar Basumatary, who has developed a mixed integrated farming approach, Prema Dhanraj, who provides free surgery to burn victims, Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, a Mallakhamb coach, have also been named for the award.
The list also includes Yazdi Maneksha Italia, who pioneered the development of India’s inaugural Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program, Godna painters Shanti Devi Paswan and Shivan Paswan, folk singer Ratan Kahar, Tikuli painter Ashok Kumar Biswas, popular Kalluvazhi Kathakali dancer Balakrishnan Sadanam Puthiya Veetil, first female Harikatha exponent Uma Maheshwari D.
Krishna leela singer from Ganjam Gopinath Swain, weaver Smriti Rekha Chakma, theatre artist Omprakash Sharma, veteran Theyyam folk dancer Narayanan EP, folk dancer Bhagabat Padhan, distinguished sculptor Sanatan Rudra Pal are among the 34 Padma awardees.
The other unsung heroes to receive the award are Valli Oyil Kummi folk dance exponent Badrappan M, bamboo craftsman Jordan Lepcha, Manipur potter Machihan Sasa, theatre artist Gaddam Sammaiah, behrupiya artist Jankilal, burra veena player Dasari Kondappa, brass Marori craftsperson Babu Ram Yadav and Chhau mask maker Nepal Chandra Sutradhar.
Aisha Patel is a dedicated Indian correspondent with a deep understanding of the nation’s diverse affairs. With a background in Indian culture, politics, and current events, she provides in-depth analysis and timely reporting on domestic issues within India.
