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In a moment of pride for Maharashtra, the state has secured a remarkable tally of 6 Padma Bhushans, the nation’s third-highest civilian honor, and an additional 6 Padma Shris, the fourth-highest civilian decoration. This recognition comes as part of the Republic Day 2024 honors announced by President Droupadi Murmu.
The total awards announced by the President include 5 Padma Vibhushans, 17 Padma Bhushans, and 110 Padma Shris, with a total of 132 awardees, including two duos.
The distinguished Padma Bhushan recipients from Maharashtra are:
- Hormusji N. Cama: Director of the 202-year-old ‘Mumbai Samachar’ newspaper group, playing a significant role in India’s independence movement.
- Dr. Ashwin B. Mehta: Renowned cardiologist, a pioneer in interventional cardiology in India, with over 110,000 heart operations to his credit.
- Ram Naik: Veteran politician with a six-decade-long career, associated with RSS, Jan Sangh, BJP, served as Union Minister, and later as Governor of Uttar Pradesh.
- Pyarelal Sharma: Veteran music director, part of the iconic duo Laxmikant-Pyarelal, contributing timeless Bollywood compositions.
- Kundan Vyas: Eminent Gujarati journalist, Editor of Janmabhoomi Group of newspapers, known for tracing India’s journey from Nehru to Modi.
The illustrious Padma Shri awardees from Maharashtra include:
- Uday V. Deshpand: Renowned coach of the traditional Indian sport ‘Mallakhamb’, having trained enthusiasts globally.
- Dr. Manohar K. Dole: A physician with over seven decades of practice, known for his philanthropic work, performing over 170,000 free eye surgeries.
- Zahir I. Kazi: President of Anjuman-I-Islam, the first Muslim doctor to graduate from Goa Medical College.
- Dr. Chandrashekhar M. Meshram: Distinguished neurologist from Nagpur, serving for over three decades and former President of Indian Academy of Neurology.
- Shankar Baba Pundlikrao Papalkar: Inspirational figure behind the ‘Late Ambadaspant Vaidya Matimand Mukbadir Bewaris Balgruh,’ providing care and support to mentally challenged children.
- Kalpana Morparia: Renowned banker from Mumbai, with a three-decade-long association with ICICI Bank, served as CEO of JPMorgan’s South & Southeast Asia branch.
These Padma awardees from Maharashtra represent excellence in diverse fields, reflecting the state’s rich cultural and professional contributions to the nation.
