Padma Awards Recognise 54 Unsung Heroes For Making Extraordinary Contributions
Continuing with the principle of celebrating ordinary Indians making extraordinary contributions, this year’s Padma Awards recognise a wide spectrum of unsung heroes from across the length and breadth of India. According to information received from sources so far, the government has selected 54 people for the Padma Shri award. The list of Padma Shri awardees includes six individuals from West Bengal, followed by Tamil Nadu with five. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra have four awardees each. Assam, Odisha, Madhya Pradesh, Karnataka and Gujarat account for three recipients each. Two Padma Shri awards each have been conferred on individuals from Telangana, Rajasthan, Jammu and Kashmir, and Chhattisgarh. Meanwhile, Tripura, Puducherry, Nagaland, Meghalaya, Manipur, Ladakh, Kerala, Haryana, Delhi, Chandigarh, Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh have one awardee each.
The awardees are Anke Gowda from Karnataka in Liturature and Education, Armida Fernandez from Maharashtra in Medicine, Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh in Sports, Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda from Maharashtra in Arts, Brij Lal Bhat from Jammu and Kashmir for social work, Budhri Tati from Chhattisgarh for social work, Charan Hembram from Odisha in Literature and Education, Chiranji Lal Yadav from Uttar Pradesh in Arts, Dr Kumarasamy Thangaraj of Telangana in Research and Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya in Arts from Gujarat, Dr Padma Gurmet from Ladakh in Medicine, Dr Punniamurthy Natesan from Tamil Nadu for vetenary scientists, Dr Shyam Sundar from Uttar Pradesh in Medicine, Gafruddin Mewati Jogi from Rajasthan in Arts, Hally War from Meghalaya for Social Worker, Inderjit Singh Sidhu from Chandigarh for social work, K Pajanivel from Puducherry for Arts, Kailash Chandra Pant from Madhya Pradesh for Literature and Education, Khemraj Sundriyal from Haryana for Arts, Kollakkayil Devaki Amma G from Kerala for Environment and aforestation, Mahendra Kumar Mishra from Odisha for Literatrure and Education, Mir Hajibhai Kasambhai from Gujarat in Arts, Mohan Nagar from Madhya Pradesh in Environment, Naresh Chandra Dev Varma from Tripura for Literature and Education, Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala from Gujarat in Social Work, Nuruddin Ahmed of Assam in Arts, Othuvar Thiruthani Swaminathan from Tamil Nadu in Arts, Jogesh Deuri of Assam for arts, Pokhila Lekthepi from Assam in Arts, R Krishnan from Tamil Nadu, Ram Chandra Godbole and Sunita Godbole from Chhattisgarh in Medicine, Raghupat Singh from Uttar Pradesh in Agriculture, Raghuveer Tukaram Khedkar from Maharastra in Arts, Rajastapathi Kaliappa Goundar from Tamil Nadu for Arts, Ramamurthy Sreedher of Delhi , Rama Reddy Mamidi from Telangana for Animal Husbandry and Dairy, SG Susheelamma from Karnataka in Social Work, Sangyusang S Pongener from Nagaland in Arts, Shafi Shauq from Jammu and Kashmir in Literature and Education, Shrirang Devaba Lad from Maharastra in Agriculture, Simanchal Patro from Odisha in Arts, Suresh Hanagavadi from Karnataka in Medicine, Taga Ram Bheel Rajasthan in Arts, Techi Gubin from Arunachal Pradesh in Social Work, Thiruvaarur Bakthavathsalam from Tamil Nadu in Arts, Vishwa Bandhu of Bihar in Arts, Yumnam Jatra Singh from Manipur in Arts, Mangala Kapoor from Uttar Pradesh, Asok Kumar Haldar from West Bengal, Gambir Singh Yonzone from West Bengal, Hari Madhab Mukhopadhyay from West Bengal, Jyotish Debnath from West Bengal, Mahendra Nath Roy from West Bengal, Tripti Mukherjee from West Bengal.
Madhya Pradesh Pride
From Madhya Pradesh 4 Padma Shri Awardees 2026 Honored for Literature, Social Service, Sports & Archaeology
In a moment of immense pride for the state, four distinguished personalities from Madhya Pradesh have been named among the Padma Shri awardees for 2026. The Union Home Ministry’s announcement of the prestigious civilian awards spotlights the diverse talent rooted in India’s heartland, honoring contributions spanning literature, social service, sports, and archaeology.
The Padma Awards 2026 list features 131 individuals across three categories. The four from MP are recognized in the Padma Shri category, the nation’s fourth-highest civilian honour. Their selection underscores how grassroots dedication and mastery in specialized fields resonate on a national platform, offering inspiration far beyond state boundaries.
Kailash Chandra Pant (Bhopal) – Literature & Education: A senior litterateur, journalist, and cultural thinker, Pant’s journey is remarkable. Born in Mhow in 1936, his values were shaped early by Arya Samaj and RSS participation. Notably, at just 13, he was arrested during a satyagraha in 1949—a testament to a lifelong spirit of action he credits for his formative years.
Mohan Nagar – Social Service: Recognized for impactful social work, Nagar’s award highlights the silent, persistent efforts to uplift communities, a cornerstone of societal progress often away from the limelight.
Bhagwandas Raikwar (Sagar) – Sports (Martial Arts): Hailing from Sagar, Raikwar brings glory to the state in the sports arena, specifically martial arts. His award celebrates discipline, athletic excellence, and the promotion of traditional sports forms.
Narayan Vyas – Archaeology: This award acknowledges vital work in unearthing and preserving history, ensuring the rich tapestry of India’s past remains accessible for future generations.
In an era where national discourse often focuses on metropolitan hubs, the Padma Awards 2026 list serves as a powerful reminder of India’s distributed brilliance. Honoring individuals from states like Madhya Pradesh reinforces the idea that profound impact originates in towns and cities across the country. For the culture and lifestyle of the region, such recognition boosts local morale, inspires the youth to pursue non-mainstream passions, and puts regional art, scholarship, and service on the national map.
As witnessed at Kailash Chandra Pant’s residence in Bhopal, where family celebrated by feeding sweets, the award is a deeply personal milestone that amplifies a lifetime of work. Experts in cultural studies note that such recognition validates fields like archaeology and traditional sports, ensuring they receive due public attention and encouraging renewed investment in these sectors.
The story of these four Padma Shri awardees from Madhya Pradesh is more than an awards list. It’s a narrative of diverse India—where a literary figure shaped by satyagraha, a dedicated social worker, a martial arts exponent, and an archaeology protector stand equally celebrated. Their achievements illuminate the countless unsung stories of dedication across India, reminding us that the foundation of national honour is often laid in the steadfast commitment of its people in their own communities. (UPDATED ON 25TH JANUARY 2026)
