President gives away national civilian awards

New Delhi, Mar 23 (PTI) Late singer Bhupen Hazarika, former diplomat Ronen Sen, noted painter Jatin Das, Dhrupad exponents Gundecha brothers, industrialist Priya Paul and Japanese industrialist Shoji Shiba were among the 53 persons who were conferred India's national civilian Padma awards here Thursday. The awards had been announced on January 25, on the eve of India's Republic Day. Former Governor T V Rajeswar and noted orthopaedician Kantilal Sancheti were given the Padma Vibhushan, the country's second highest civilian award after Bharat Ratna, by President Pratibha Patil at a ceremony at the President's House. No Bharat Ratna has been given this year. Taz Hazarika, son of Bhupen Hazarika, received the PadmaVibhushan award from the President. Painter Jatin Das, Sarod exponent Pandit Buddhadev Das Gupta, classical vocalist T V Gopalkrishnan, film director Mira Nair, noted sculptor Anish Kapoor, eminent astrophysicist Shashikumar Chitre, oncologist Suresh Advani, cardiologist Devi Shetty and educationist Shantaram Mujumdar were among the third ranked Padma Bhushan awardees. Ronen Sen, who played a key role in the finalisation of the Indo-US nuclear deal, economist Arvind Panagariya, leading exponent of the history of Indian art Vidya Dehejia and industrialist M V Subbiah also received the Padma Bhushan. Nonagenarians Khaled Choudhury and Sunil Janah who were awarded the Padma Bhushan for their contribution to theatre and photography could not make it to the ceremony due to their advanced age. Music composer Vanraj Bhatia, noted exponent of Manipuri historical ballads Nameirakpam Ibemni Devi, playwrights Moti Lal Kemmu and Satish Alekar, theater personalities Joy Michael and Natesan Muthuswamy, classical dance exponent Kalamandalam Sivan Nambootiri were among the fourth placed base level Padma Shri awardees. Dhrupad exponents Ramakant Gundecha and Umakant Gundecha, popularly known as Gundecha brothers, vocalist Anup Jalota, film director Priyadarsan, senior advocate Pravin Parekh, agriculture scientist K L Chadha and biotechnologist Rameshwar Nath Koul Bamezai were conferred with the Padma Shri. Among the other Padma Shri awardees were social workers Shamshad Begum, P K Gopal, G Muniratnam, Uma Tuli, and Binny Yanga, scientist Lokesh Kumar Singhal, industrialists Priya Paul and Arun Firodia. Japanese industrialist Shoji Shiba also received Padma Shri. The Padma Shri awardees in medicine category were J Hareendran Nair, Jitendra Kumar Singh, Nitya Anand and homeopath Mukesh Batra. In the category of Literature and Education, Kedar Gurung, Vijay Dutt Shridhar, Geeta Dharmarajan and Pepita Seth received the Padma Shri. Cricketer Jhulan Goswami, Ajeet Bajaj (skiing), Devendra Jhajrija (Paralympics), Syed Mohammed Arif (Badminton), Kota Ullas Karanth (Wildlife Conservation) and Swapan Guha (Ceramics) also received the Padma Shri. PTI