Padma Awards 2025: On Saturday, 30 people from different backgrounds were honored with the Padma Shri Award ahead of Republic Day celebrations in India. The list included a 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa, a Dhak player from West Bengal, India’s first female puppeteers, two travel influencers, and many others.
The Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honors in India and are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. These awards recognize exceptional contributions in various fields and activities. They are announced each year around Republic Day.
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The Padma Vibhushan is given for outstanding service of the highest distinction, while the Padma Bhushan is awarded for exceptional service of high order. The Padma Shri is awarded for distinguished service in any field.
Padma Awards 2025: Awardees
Some of the Padma Shri awardees include:
- Libia Lobo Sardesai, a 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa, played a key role in Goa’s fight for independence. She co-founded an underground radio station called ‘Voz da Liberdabe (Voice of Freedom)’ in 1955, which operated in a forest area to spread the message against Portuguese rule.
- Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year-old Dhak player from West Bengal, has broken gender stereotypes by training 150 women in a male-dominated field. He also created a lighter version of the traditional Dhak, which is 1.5 kg lighter than the usual instrument. Gokul has performed with famous artists like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain on international stages.
- Sally Holkar, an 82-year-old from Madhya Pradesh, revived the dying Maheshwari handloom craft and founded a handloom school to teach traditional weaving techniques. She has spent 50 years preserving the 300-year-old craft.
- Shaikha A J Al Sabah, a yoga practitioner from Kuwait, is a leading figure in her country’s wellness scene. She founded Daratma, the first licensed yoga studio in Kuwait.
- L Hangthing, a fruit farmer from Nagaland, has spent over 30 years cultivating non-native fruits in his home state, showing his dedication to agriculture.
- P Datchanamoorthy, an expert in Thavil, a classical percussion instrument central to South Indian music and culture, has more than 50 years of experience in playing and teaching the instrument.
- These individuals are celebrated for their outstanding contributions and hard work in their respective fields, receiving the prestigious Padma Shri Award for their distinguished service.
