Jammu: In a prestigious ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Droupadi Murmu presented the Padma Awards to 68 distinguished individuals during the second Civil Investiture Ceremony of 2025.
Among the recipients, two eminent personalities from Jammu and Kashmir were conferred the Padma Shri for their outstanding contributions to art and literature.
Farooq Ahmad Mir, a renowned Kashmiri shawl weaver, received the Padma Shri in the field of Art. Acclaimed for revolutionizing the traditional Kani weaving technique, Shri Mir has simplified complex weaving procedures and introduced innovative designs—including the incorporation of Hindi, Urdu, and Sanskrit calligraphy into shawls. His artistic ingenuity has not only elevated the cultural heritage of Kashmir but also provided sustainable livelihood opportunities to countless artisans across the region.
Prof. Lalit Kumar Mangotra, a former Professor of Physics and a distinguished Dogri writer, was honoured with the Padma Shri in the field of Literature and Education. Since the publication of his first Dogri short story in 1976, Prof. Mangotra has emerged as a prolific literary figure, contributing across genres to enrich Dogri literature. Several of his works are included in postgraduate Dogri literature curricula, recognized for their literary depth and cultural significance.
The ceremony was graced by the presence of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah, External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar, and other senior dignitaries.
The Padma Awards—India’s highest civilian honors—are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. This year, a total of 139 awardees were announced on the eve of Republic Day. The second investiture ceremony recognized 3 Padma Vibhushan, 9 Padma Bhushan, and 56 Padma Shri awardees, including 13 posthumous honors.
A particularly poignant moment was the posthumous Padma Vibhushan awarded to legendary folk singer Dr. Sharda Sinha, celebrated for her soulful Chhath and devotional songs. Her son, Anshuman Sinha, received the award on her behalf. Also awarded the Padma Vibhushan were former Chief Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and renowned classical dancer Kumudini Lakhia (posthumous).
Among the Padma Bhushan recipients were social activist Sadhvi Ritambhara, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, and journalist-author A. Surya Prakash. Posthumous honors in this category were bestowed on singer Pankaj Udhas, former Lok Sabha Speaker Manohar Joshi, economist Bibek Debroy, literary giant M.T. Vasudevan Nair, and Japanese industrialist Osamu Suzuki, whose pioneering role helped shape the Maruti-Suzuki partnership in India.
The Padma Shri list featured 57 inspiring personalities, including playback singer Arijit Singh, cricketer Ravichandran Ashwin, author Pratibha Satpathy, former SBI Chair Arundhati Bhattacharya, and violin maestro Tejendra Narayan Majumdar. Notably, ten international awardees—foreign nationals, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs—were honored, reflecting India’s recognition of global contributions to its development and culture.
Of the total awardees, 23 were women, reinforcing the rising prominence of female achievers. Many recipients hailed from rural and underserved communities, representing the government’s vision of the Padma Awards as “people’s honors” that value selfless service and grassroots impact over public acclaim.
The celebration of this diverse pool of talent underscores the “Nation First, People First” ethos and highlights the vibrancy of India’s cultural, scientific, and humanitarian landscape.
