57 receive Padma awards
Tribune News Service

NEW DELHI, March 23 — The President, Mr K. R. Narayanan today presented the Padma awards to 57 personalities for their contribution in various fields at an impressive ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan this morning.

The resplendent Ashoka Hall reverberated with applause as the President honoured administrators, scientists, artistes, social workers, educationists, writers, jurists, medical professionals and sports persons at a 30-minute ceremony.

The President, Mr K R Narayanan, conferring the Padma Vibhushan on noted singer Lata Mangeshkar at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Tuesday.

Lata Mangeshkar with Javed Akhtar and sports persons Sachin Tendulkar and K Malleshwari after being conferred the Padma awards.

Prominent among the 12 who were bestowed with the Padma Vibhushan was former civil servant Mr B. K. Nehru, who now is President of The Tribune Trust.

Among others who were honoured with Padma Vibhushan were vocalist Pandit Bhimsen Joshi, playback singer Ms Lata Mangeshkar, social worker Nanaji Deshmukh, physicist Dr R Chidambaram, painter Satish Gujral, former Judge of Supreme Court, Justice V. R. Krishna Iyer and architect of White Revolution, Dr Verghese Kurien.Two of the 14 recipients, social scientist Mr P Athavale and historian Dr S Gopal were not present while Mrs Manorama Singh, widow of former civil servant L P Singh received the award on behalf of her husband.

The President conferring the Padma Vibhushan on artist Satish Gujral

Of the 14 eminent people who were selected for the Padma Bhushan, film personality Ashok Kumar and two of the 34 who received the Padma Shree awards, Urdu writer Dr Bashir Badr and Gandhian Acharya Ramamurti were not present at the investiture ceremony. Mrs Punnana D C, widow of Malyalam writer Dominic Chacko Kizhakemuri, received the Padma Bhushan awarded to him posthumously.

Dr Anil Kakodkar, Director of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre and team of scientists who played a role in the Pokhran-II nuclear explosion last May were among those honoured with Padma awards which were announced on the eve of Republic Day this year.

Lyricist Javed Nisaar Akhtar, writer Ruskin Bond, cricketer Sachin Tendulkar and former women’s world weightlifting champion, character actor Sulochana and Tibetan Thanka artist Tsering Wangdus from Leh were among those who received the Padma Shree.

The loudest applause was reserved for India’s prominent cricketer Sachin Tendulkar who was present on the occasion along with his wife. Many a recipient preferred to get photographed with the young cricketer and must have easily scored a ‘ton’ with his pen signing autographs. The seekers included former Chief Executive Councillor of Delhi, Mr Jag Parvesh Chandra, who was awarded the Padma Bhushan today.

The President, Mr Narayanan while presenting the award to Tendulkar said: "I am proud of you, carry on the good work". The master batsman told reporters when asked about what message he got from the first citizen of the country.

Among those present at the ceremony included the Vice-President, Mr Krishan Kant, the Prime Minister, Mr Atal Behari Vajpayee, the Home Minister, Mr L K Advani, the I and B Minister, Mr Pramod Mahajan, the Power Minister, Mr P. R. Kumaramangalam, the Minister of State for Sports, Ms Uma Bharati, former Prime Minister, Mr I. K. Gujral, the Congress President, Mrs Sonia Gandhi, Election Commissioner, Mr G V G Krishnamurthy and others.