A vocal advocate of woman empowerment, 82-year old Sally Holkar transformed once dying Maheshwari craft and founded Handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, to give training in traditional weaving techniques…reports Asian Lite News
A 100-year old freedom fighter from Goa, a Dhak player from West Bengal who trained 150 women in the male-dominated field and India’s first woman puppeteers are among 30 unsung heroes who were awarded Padma Shri, a government statement said on Saturday.
Libia Lobo Sardesai, who played an important role in Goa’s freedom movement, cofounded an underground radio station — ‘Voz da Liberdabe (Voice of Freedom)’ — in a forested area in 1955 to rally people against the Portuguese rule.
She has been awarded the Padma Shri by the President on the occasion of 76th Republic Day.
Also among the awardees is Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year old Dhak player from West Bengal who broke the gender stereotype by training 150 women in the male-dominated field.
Dey also created a lightweight Dhak type, 1.5 kg less than the conventional instrument, and represented India at various international platforms and performed with Maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain.
A vocal advocate of woman empowerment, 82-year old Sally Holkar transformed once dying Maheshwari craft and founded Handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, to give training in traditional weaving techniques.
Born in America and Inspired by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy, she devoted five decades of her life to revitalise 300-year-old weaving legacy.
She has also been awarded Padma Shri.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi extended his congratulations to the Padma awardees of 2025, praising their contributions to society and highlighting their dedication, perseverance, and innovation in various fields.
“Congratulations to all the Padma awardees! India is proud to honour and celebrate their extraordinary achievements. Their dedication and perseverance are truly motivating. Each awardee is synonymous with hard work, passion and innovation, which has positively impacted countless lives. They teach us the value of striving for excellence and serving society selflessly,” PM Modi wrote in a X post.
This year, India has conferred seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards, recognizing exceptional contributions across various fields. The list includes 23 women awardees, 10 individuals from the categories of Foreigners, NRIs, PIOs, and OCIs, along with 13 posthumous awards.
The Padma awards, among the country’s highest civilian honors, are conferred in three categories: Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Vibhushan.
These awards are given in various disciplines such as art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, and literature, among others.
The Padma Shri is the fourth-highest civilian award in India, after the Bharat Ratna, Padma Vibhushan, and Padma Bhushan.
Notably, the Padma Shri awardee list includes several individuals who have made remarkable contributions in their respective fields.
One such awardee is P. Datchanamoorthy, an instrumentalist specializing in the Thavil, a classical percussion instrument integral to South Indian music and culture. With over five decades of experience, he has performed in more than 15,000 events across India, keeping the traditions of Thavil music alive.
Jagdish Joshila, a Nimadi and Hindi author from Khargone, is also being awarded Padma Shri. Over the past five decades, he has authored more than 50 historical and patriotic-themed novels, poetry collections, and plays.
Another recipient is Naren Gurung, a versatile folk artist from Gangtok, who has devoted 60 years to preserving and promoting Sikkimese Nepali folk music and dance traditions.
Prolific ‘Nirgun’ folk singer Bheru Singh Chouhan is also among the Padma Shri awardees. He has dedicated five decades to bhajan music rooted in the traditional Malvi folk style, performing verses of Sant Kabir, Goraknath, and Dadu since the age of 9.
Instituted in 1954, the Padma awards are announced annually on the occasion of Republic Day, recognizing extraordinary achievements and dedication to various disciplines.
