Echoes of excellence: Padma Awards 2025 celebrate unsung heroes and timeless legacies across fields

New Delhi: On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs announced the recipients of the prestigious Padma Awards for 2025. These awards, among the highest civilian honors in India, recognize distinguished contributions across various fields, including art, literature, science, medicine, and public affairs.

This year, 139 individuals have been selected for the awards, including seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri recipients. Among them, 23 are women, and the list includes 10 honorees of foreign origin, as well as 13 posthumous awards. The awards will be presented by the President of India at a ceremony to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April.

Spotlight on Unsung and Unique Contributions

The Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian award, has been bestowed upon individuals who have made a significant impact in their communities and fields.

• Libia Lobo Sardesai (102 years, Goa): A freedom fighter who played a pivotal role in Goa's liberation, Sardesai co-founded the underground radio station Voz da Liberdade. She later became the first female lawyer in Goa and the state’s first Tourism Director, shaping its now-thriving tourism industry.

• Gokul Chandra Das (57 years, West Bengal): A pioneer in Dhak, a traditional Bengali percussion instrument, Das broke gender stereotypes by training over 150 women and forming a women’s Dhak troupe. He also created a lighter version of the instrument to encourage wider participation.

• Sally Holkar (82 years, Madhya Pradesh): This social entrepreneur revitalized the Maheshwari handloom industry, blending traditional craftsmanship with modern design. Through her initiatives, she empowered over 250 women and created sustainable livelihoods.

• Batool Begum (68 years, Rajasthan): A Muslim folk singer specializing in Maand and Bhajan, Begum’s music promotes communal harmony. She is the only Rajasthani female artist to have performed at Paris's Town Hall.

• Harvinder Singh (33 years, Haryana): A para-archer and India’s first Paralympic gold medalist in archery, Singh’s achievements include a bronze at the Tokyo Paralympics and world number one ranking in 2024.

• Jumde Yomgam Gamlin (59 years, Arunachal Pradesh): A social worker from West Siang, Gamlin established Mother’s Vision, an NGO focused on de-addiction and rehabilitation. Her efforts have transformed over 700 lives and empowered women through vocational training.

Celebrating Cultural Preservation and Environmental Stewardship

Several awardees have contributed to preserving traditional art forms and promoting environmental sustainability:

• Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli (92 years, Maharashtra): A conservationist and Marathi author, Chitampalli has written extensively on wildlife and biodiversity, influencing the creation of key wildlife sanctuaries in Maharashtra.

• Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara (96 years, Karnataka): A master puppeteer, she has preserved and promoted Togalu Gombeyaata, Karnataka’s traditional shadow puppetry, for over seven decades.

• Chaitram Devchand Pawar (57 years, Maharashtra): Known for his work in environmental conservation, Pawar mobilized communities to restore biodiversity and implement sustainable water management in over 100 villages.

• Parmar Lavjibhai Nagjibhai (64 years, Gujarat): A Tangaliya weaver, he has preserved a 700-year-old traditional weaving technique, empowering marginalized families through training and livelihood opportunities.

Recognizing Global Influence and Spiritual Leadership

The awards also highlight India's global cultural and spiritual impact:

• Jonas Masetti (43 years, Brazil): A mechanical engineer turned spiritual leader, Masetti has popularized Indian Vedanta and philosophy in Brazil, reaching over 1.5 lakh students through his teachings.

• Shaikha A.J. Al Sabah (48 years, Kuwait): A yoga practitioner, she founded Kuwait's first licensed yoga studio and has harmonized traditional yoga practices with modern approaches in the Gulf region.

Legacy of Travel and Exploration

• Hugh and Colleen Gantzer (Uttarakhand): Posthumously honored, this husband-and-wife duo revolutionized travel journalism in India, penning over 30 books and 3,000 articles highlighting India’s diverse landscapes and cultures.

From preserving ancient crafts to transforming lives, the Padma Awards 2025 celebrate not just achievements but stories of perseverance, innovation, and community impact. The awards ceremony will be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan later this year, honoring these extraordinary individuals who embody India’s ethos of unity in diversity.

PR Sreejesh chosen for Padma Bhushan; Ashwin, Vijayan among 4 in sports to get Padma Shri

Former men's hockey captain P R Sreejesh was chosen for the Padma Bhushan, while recently-retired cricket star Ravichandran Ashwin was among the Padma Shri winners as four athletes and a para-athletics coach figured in the list of 139 that was unveiled for the coveted civilian awards on Saturday.

Legendary Indian footballer I M Vijayan and India's first Paralympic gold medal-winning archer Harvinder Singh too were named for the Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian honour. Para athletics coach Satyapal Singh, who mentored Paris Paralympics gold-winning and Khel Ratna-awardee high-jumper Praveen Kumar, would also be bestowed with the Padma Shri. "It's (award) because of the faith reposed in me by so many people. I have been associated with Praveen Kumar since 2018 and a lot of credit goes to my ward for this award," Satyapal told PTI.

The five were picked for the Padma awards by President Droupadi Murmu on the eve of the 76th Republic Day. The 36-year-old Sreejesh, who retired after winning a second successive Olympic bronze with the national team in Paris Olympics, is currently the head coach of the junior men's team. Considered one of the greatest hockey goalkeepers of all times, Sreejesh had a stellar role in India's Olympic resurgence. He played a whopping 336 games in his career that spanned 18 years and also yielded two Asian Games gold medals. Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian honour after Bharat Ratna and Padma Vibhushan.

Off-spin great Ashwin, 38, bid adieu to international cricket during the Border-Gavaskar series in Australia in December last year, finishing as India's second highest wicket-taker in Tests with 537 scalps in 106 games. The Chennai-star, who will continue to compete in the IPL and other domestic events, was a part of India's 2011 ODI World Cup-winning and the 2013 Champions Trophy-winning teams. He was named in the ICC's Test team of the decade for the 2011 to 2020 period, highlighting his stellar role in India's success. The 33-year-old Harvinder, whose legs were impaired due to side effects of ill-advised injections for treatment of dengue when he was a toddler, clinched gold in the Paris Paralympics last year in the individual recurve open category. Hailing from a family of farmers in Ajit Nagar, Haryana had also won a bronze in Tokyo in 2021. During the COVID-19 lockdown, his father turned their farm into an archery range to support his training. In recurve open class, archers shoot from a standing position at a distance of 70m at a 122cm target made up of 10 concentric circles, scoring from 10 points down to 1 point from the centre outwards.

The 55-year-old Vijayan led India from 2000 to 2004 and formed a formidable strike force with the immensely popular Bhaichung Bhutia at the peak of his prowess. At the club level, he had memorable stints with Mohun Bagan, Kerala Police, the now defunct FC Cochin and JCT Mills Phagwara. He joins the likes of other legendary footballers Gostho Paul (1962), Sailen Manna (1971), Chuni Goswami (1983), PK Banerjee (1990), Bhutia (2008), Sunil Chhetri (2019) and Bembem Devi (2020) and Brahmanand Sankhwalkar (2022) to receive the prestigious award.

Hailing from Kerala, Vijayan bestowed the Arjuna award in 2003. He was also awarded the Indian Player of the Year in 1993, 1997 and 1999. Nicknamed the 'Black Buck' because of a 1998 biopic on him called 'Kalo Harin', the former India striker, who made his national debut in the early 90s, scored 40 goals in 79 matches for India. He was a part of the Indian team that won SAFF Championships in 1993, 1997 and 1999. The Padma awards are given for distinguished services to public across fields. This year's annual honours' list comprises seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri award-winners.

Sharda Sinha, Pankaj Udhas, Shekhar Kapur among artistes honoured

Late musicians Sharda Sinha, Pankaj Udhas, Tamil superstar Ajith Kumar, veteran filmmaker Shekhar Kapur and singer Arijit Singh were among 139 recipients of the coveted Padma Awards for the year 2025 announced on the eve of Republic Day. Folk singer Sinha and noted Malayalam screenwriter-director M T Vasudevan Nair have been posthumously honoured with Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award for exceptional and distinguished service. Renowned Ghazal singer Udhas has been posthumously honoured with third highest highest civilian award Padma Bhushan, along with Ajith, Kapur, Telugu actor Nandamuri Balakrishna, cinema veteran Anant Nag and Bharatnatyam dancer-actor Shobana. Singh as well as veteran actor Ashok Saraf, theatre stalwart Barry John, singer Jaspinder Narula and Grammy-winning musician Ricky Kej will receive Padma Shri, the fourth highest civilian award.

Highlights from the 2025 Padma Awardees:

• Padma Vibhushan:

  • Dr. Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy (Medicine, Telangana)

  • Justice (Retd.) Jagdish Singh Khehar (Public Affairs, Chandigarh)

  • Posthumous honors include Shri M.T. Vasudevan Nair (Literature, Kerala), Shri Osamu Suzuki (Trade, Japan), and Smt. Sharda Sinha (Art, Bihar).

• Padma Bhushan:

  • Eminent journalist Shri A. Surya Prakash (Literature, Karnataka)

  • Actor Shri Anant Nag (Art, Karnataka)

  • Posthumous recognition for economist Shri Bibek Debroy (NCT Delhi).

• Padma Shri:

  • Popular singer Shri Arijit Singh (Art, West Bengal)

  • Noted scientist Shri Ajay V. Bhatt (USA)

  • Social worker Smt. Libia Lobo Sardesai (Goa).

The awards celebrate the contributions of individuals from diverse fields and regions, reflecting India's cultural, scientific, and social richness. They also underscore India's global engagement, with several international honorees.

The Padma Awards, instituted in 1954, are conferred in three categories. The Padma Vibhushan is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service, the Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order, and the Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

This year’s list highlights India’s spirit of innovation and excellence, honoring individuals who have made an indelible mark in their respective domains. The full list of awardees can be accessed through the Ministry of Home Affairs.