With the countrywide celebration of India’s 76th Republic Day, marked by festive parades and patriotic fervour, the annual list of Padma awardees has also been announced.
One of the highest civilian honours in the country, the Padma Awards are conferred in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. This year, bringing glory to Uttar Pradesh, a total of 10 individuals from different fields have received Padma Awards. Here’s a list of all the names and their contributions:
1. Smt. Soniya Nityanand: Medicine
Dr. Soniya Nityanand, a distinguished immunologist specialising in haematology, has been honoured with the Padma Shri award for her pioneering contributions to medical science. She completed both her undergraduate and postgraduate studies at King George’s Medical College in Lucknow.
Throughout her illustrious career, Dr. Nityanand has held significant positions, including Assistant Professor in Medicine at Lucknow’s KGMU and faculty roles at the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS) in Lucknow.
2. Shri Shyam Bihari Agrawal: Art
Shri Shyam Bihari Agrawal, an eminent artist from the state, has been conferred with the Padma Shri award for his exceptional contributions to the field of art. A renowned painter and educator, he is recognised for his expertise in Indian painting and his impactful role in shaping the artistic community in India.
During the course of his career, he has served as a professor at the University of Allahabad, where he not only imparted his knowledge but also made significant contributions to the development of art education. Apart from his teaching career, he has authored several monographs on Indian painting and has been an active participant in various cultural initiatives.
3. Shri Satyapal Singh: Sports
Shri Satyapal Singh, a distinguished coach in para-athletics, has been honoured with the Padma Shri award for his contributions to the field of sports.
He is widely recognised for his role in coaching Praveen Kumar, a high-jump athlete who won a gold medal at Paris Paralympics and was later awarded the prestigious Khel Ratna. As a coach, Shri Satyapal Singh has been a driving force in the growth of para-athletics.
4. Shri Narayan aka Bhulai Bhai (Posthumous): Public Affairs
Late Shri Narayan, fondly remembered as ‘Bhulai Bhai’, was a key figure in Uttar Pradesh’s political scene. Born in 1913 in Pagar Chhapra of Kushinagar district, he devoted his life to public service. Bhulai Bhai passed away on October 31, 2024, at the remarkable age of 111. His passing was deeply mourned, with heartfelt tributes pouring in from political leaders across the country.
In honour of his immense contributions to public service, he has been posthumously awarded the Padma Shri this year.
5. Shree Hriday Narain Dixit: Literature & Education
Shri Hriday Narayan Dixit, another prominent politician and writer from the state, was also awarded the Padma Shri honour, for his contribution to the field of literature. Born in Unnao, he held various significant roles, including serving as an MLA and as the 17th Speaker of the Uttar Pradesh Legislative Assembly from 2017 to 2022.
Apart from his political career, Shri Dixit is also a respected writer and journalist. His literary works include ‘Madhu Abhilasha’ and ‘Deen Dayal Upadhyay: Drashta, Drishti aur Darshan’.
6. Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid: Literature & Education
Shri Ganeshwar Shastri Dravid, a renowned Vedic scholar and astrologer from Varanasi, has been awarded the Padma Shri. Shri Dravid has played a key role in organising major religious ceremonies, including the Pran Pratishtha rituals in Ayodhya.
7. Shri Ashutosh Sharma: Science & Engineering
Shri Ashutosh Sharma, a renowned professor at IIT Kanpur, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to nanosciences and nanotechnology.
Beyond his academic achievements, Professor Sharma has been instrumental in promoting innovation and connecting scientific research with practical societal benefits.
8. Shri Rambahadur Rai: Literature & Education
Shri Rambahadur Rai, a pretty renowned and respected Hindi journalist of the country, has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to the field of literature and journalism. He serves as the Editor of ‘Yathavat’, a respected Hindi fortnightly news magazine published from Delhi, where his leadership has helped shape the magazine’s impact. His work has influenced many aspiring journalists and played a crucial role in the development of Hindi-language media in India.
9. Shri Syed Ainul Hasan: Literature & Education
Shri Syed Ainul Hasan, a distinguished Persian scholar from Varanasi, was honoured with the Padma Shri. He is currently serving as the Vice Chancellor of Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) in Hyderabad.
Before this, Shri Hasan was a professor at JNU in New Delhi, where he played a key role in strengthening Indo-Afghan relations, notably by establishing the Afghan Resource Centre.
10. Sadhvi Ritambhara: Social Work
Sadhvi Ritambhara, a renowned spiritual leader and social activist, has been honoured with Padma Bhushan this year, for her exceptional contributions to social empowerment and humanitarian work. One of Ritambhara’s most notable achievements is the founding of Vatsalyagram, an organisation dedicated to the care and rehabilitation of destitute women and children.
Awarding ceremony to likely be held around March/April
A total of 139 Padma Awards have been conferred this year, and the full list of awardees can be viewed here. Following the announcement of the Padma Awards 2025, a special ceremony will be held in March or April to honour the recipients. The awards will be presented by the President of India at the Rashtrapati Bhawan.
