Padma Awards for Dixit, Shah Rukh

The Tribune, Chandigarh, India - Main News: "Cinestar Shah Rukh Khan, late National Security Adviser J.N. Dixit, Wipro chairman Azim Premji, highest wicket taker for India Anil Kumble, film producer Yash Chopra, cartoonist R.K. Laxman, noted Sufi singer Puran Chand Wadali and social worker Gladys Staines are among the 96 persons who have been conferred with this year�s Padma Awards.

President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam approved names of nine persons for this year�s Padma Vibushan Awards which included Laxman, Dixit, Attorney-General Milon Kumar Benerji, former Sadar-e-Riyasat of Jammu and Kashmir Karan Singh and noted social worker Mohan Dharia. The other recipients of Padma Vibushan include Dr Bal Krishan Goyal for medicine, Bhai Mohan Singh for trade and industry, Dr M.V.S. Valiathan for medicine and Ram Narayan for his contribution in the field of arts in Maharashtra.

As many as 30 persons, including renowned film director and producer Yash Chopra, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Girish Chander Saxena, former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Syed Mir Qassim, dental surgeon Anil Kohli and noted cardiologist Tarlochan Singh Kler are to be awarded the Padma Bhushan.
Famous playback singer Manna Dey, Punjabi classical and Sufi singer Puran Chand Wadali and Wipro chairman Azim Premji have been awarded Padma Bhushan for their contribution in art and trade and industry, respectively.

Other recipients of Padma Bhushan Award include former BBC correspondent Mark Tully, historians Irfan Habib and Romila Thapar, noted economist Mrinal Datta Chaudhuri, sociologist Andre Beteille and educationist Balraj Puri. Magsaysay Award winner Chandi Prasad Bhatt and famous AIIMS cardiologist K. Srinath Reddy have also been conferred with the honour.

Wife of slain Australian social worker Graham Staines, Gladys Staines, highest wicket-taker for India Anil Kumble, lone medallist in Olympic 2004 Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore, cinestar Shah Rukh Khan and vice-chairperson of Hindustan Times Shobhana Bhartia and renowned Kashmiri singer Shameem Dev Azad get the Padma Shri.

Academician Jagtar Singh Grewal from Punjab, Sunita Narain, whose NGO created a stir by bringing to public knowledge the pesticide content in soft drinks, noted Civil Liberties lawyer Indira Jaisingh, dancer Komala Vardhan, playback singer Kavita Krishnamurti, journalist Mammen Mathew, film producer Muzaffar Ali and former All-England badminton champion Pullela Gopichand are among other noted personalities awarded the Padma Shri.

Social Workers Sushil Sahai (Uttar Pradesh), Theilin Phanbuh (Meghalaya), science and engineering scholar Vasudevan Gnana Gandhi (Kerala), Prof Veer Singh Mehta (medicine), Manipuri dancer Sougaijam Thanil Singh, and Dr P.N. Vasudeva Kurup (medicine), from Gujarat are among the 57 Padma Shri awardees."