M A I N   N E W S

Padma Vibhushan for KS, Vohra

Left to right: Khushwant Singh and N.N. Vohra — Padma Vibhushan; Indira Nooyi — Padma Bhushan; Jeev Milkha Singh.— Padma Shri.

New Delhi, January 25
Noted jurist Fali S. Nariman, well-known writer Khushwant Singh, former Cabinet Secretary Naresh Chandra and former Chief Justice of India P.N. Bhagwati were among the ten eminent personalities named for the Padma Vibhushan awards announced here late tonight.

Former Home Secretary N.N. Vohra, Dr Balu Sankaran, late author Raja Rao, economist Raja J. Chelliah, former bureaucrat V. Krishnamurthy and US-based Sudarshan Erinackal Chandy George were also named for the country’s second highest civilian awards on the eve of the 58th Republic Day.

In all, 121 Padma awards were announced, including 10 Padma Vibhushan, 32 Padma Bhushan and 79 Padma Shri awards.

No one was named for the coveted Bharat Ratna award, the country’s highest civilian honour.

Among those chosen for the Padma Bhushan were well-known political scientist Bhikhu Parekh, noted social worker Ela Gandhi, poet Gopaldas Neeraj, Pepsico Chief Executive Indra Nooyi, former Tata Steel managing director Jamshed J Irani, lyricist Javed Akhtar, American economist Jeffrey D Sachs and Japanese industrialist O Suzuki. The Padma Bhushan awardees also included social worker Mohini Giri, Bharti Telecom chief Sunil Bharti Mittal, Kerala playwright Kavalam Narayan Panikkar, vocalists Rajan and Sajan Misra, artists Syed Haider Raza and Tyeb Mehta and former Supreme Court judge K T Thomas.

Writers Amitav Ghosh and Vikram Seth, choreographer Astad Deboo, IIM Ahmedabad director Bakul Dholakia, Malayalam actor Balachandra Menon, Delhi-based dancer Geeta Chandran, golfer Jeev Milkha Singh, NASSCOM chief Kiran Karnik, chess prodigy Koneru Humpy, singer Remo Fernandes and educationist Mushirul Hassan were among those named for the Padma Shri awards.

Master weaver P Gopinathan of Kerala, opthalmalogist P. Namperumalsamy of Tamil Nadu, HSBC India CEO Naina Kidwai, singer Shanti Hiranand, cookery expert Tarla Dalal, activist Teesta Setalvad and Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode were also chosen for the Padma Shri.