List of Padma Awardees from Tamil Nadu - 2017
Yesterday the winners of the Padma awards, one of the highest civilian awards of the country were announced. This comes as an element of joy and pride for Tamil Nadu, which is just recovering from the hangover of Jallikattu. To have a total of 7 people from our very own state among the list of other esteemed achievers, is after all a complete honour. In lieu of the occasion, we decided to present a glimpse into the names being felicitated with this prestigious prize.
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev - Padma Vibhushan
Padma Vibhushan is the second highest civilian honour (after Bharath Rathna) and Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev (born Jagadish) is being awarded for his contribution in the field of Spiritualism under the "others" category. Popularly known as the founder of Isha Foundation, he is involved in yoga, spiritualism and various social activities through his organisation. He is one of the 7 awardees in this category.
Late Cho Ramaswamy - Padma Bhushan
There is hardly a person in Tamil Nadu who wouldn't recognise the late Cho Ramaswamy. He was not only a well known actor but also a popular political satirist. He was the founder and editor of the Tamil magazine Thuglak. One Mong the 7 awardees, he is being awarded for his contribution to Literature and Education in Journalism.
TK Murthy - Padma Shri (Art & Music)
TK Murthy is a 92 year old mirudhangam player. Popular in the world of carnatic music, TK Murthy has earlier been conferred with the prestiguous Kalaimamani award, Sangeet Natak Academy award, Palghat Mani Iyer award and Sangeetha Kalanidhi award among many other awards.
Michel Danino - Padma Shri (Literature & Education)
Michel Danino is an Indian author with French origin. Danino settled in India while contributing to the translation of works by Sri Aurobindo, a spiritualist who founded the Auorbindo ashram at Pondicherry and The Mother, who was a spiritual collaborator with the Ashram. Danino is currently a guest professor at IIT, Gandhinagar and a member of the Indian council of historical research.
Nivedita Raghunath Bhide - Padma Shri (Social Work)
Nivedita Raghunath Bhide is a social worker and spiritualist. She is currently the vice president for the Kanyakumari region of Vivekananda Kendra which is a publication trust.
Mariyappan Thangavelu - Padma Shri (Sports Athletics)
Mariyappan Thangavelu is an Indian paralympic high jumper. He won gold in the Rio Summer Paralympics in 2016 in the men's high jump T-42 category. He is India's first paralympian gold medallist since 2004.
Late Sunithi Solomon - Padma Shri (Medicine)
The late Sunithi Solomon was the first to have diagnosed AIDS cases in Chennai back in 1985. She was a physician and microbiologist who later pioneered in AIDS research and prevention in India.
Sl. No |
Name |
Field |
State |
1. |
Shri K J Yesudas |
Art-Music |
Kerala |
2. |
Sadhguru Jaggi Vasudev |
Others-Spiritualism |
Tamil Nadu |
3. |
Shri Sharad Pawar |
Public Affairs |
Maharashtra |
4. |
Shri Murli Manohar Joshi |
Public Affairs |
Uttar Pradesh |
5. |
Prof. Udipi Ramachandra Rao |
Science & Engineering |
Karnataka |
6. |
Late Shri Sunder Lal Patwa (Posthumous) |
Public Affairs |
Madhya Pradesh |
7. |
Late Shri PA Sangma (Posthumous) |
Public Affairs |
Meghalaya |