LATA MANGESHKAR, BHIMSEN JOSHI CONFERRED PADMA VIBHUSHAN
Dr. Jai Maharaj
The Hindustan Times
Wednesday, March 24, 1999
WELL DONE, GRANDSON!: Octogenarian Carnatic music
exponent D.K. Pattamal, a Padma Vibhushan winner,
greets cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, a Padma Shree
winner, at the awards ceremony at Rashtrapati Bhavan
in Nayee Dillee on Tuesday. Photo: AP
Nayee Dillee, March 23 (PTI) - Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar and
eminent vocalist Bhimsen Joshi today received the prestigious Padma
Vibhushan from President K.R. Narayanan at the Ashoka Hall of
Rashtrapati Bhavan here while cricketing genius Sachin Tendulkar
and actress Sulochana were among those conferred Padma Shri.
It was a moment to be cherished for the 55 of the 62 awardees, who
were present to receive the honours. Two were conferred the honour
posthumously while five others were unable to attend the function.
Among those who were honoured at the 30-minute ceremony was the
entire team that contributed to the successful nuclear test at
Pokhran, watched proudly by the team leader and scientific adviser
to Defence Minister Prof A.P.J. Abdul Kalam.
Ninety-three-year old former civil servant Dharma Vira was the
oldest recipient among the awardees and received a loud applause as
he strode to the dais to be presented the Padma Vibhushan.
Among the youngest was 25-year-old cricketer Tendulkar. “I am very
proud of you and carry on the good work,” Mr Narayanan told
Tendulkar as he received the award amidst thunderous clapping from
the audience with some teenagers exclaiming “wow” as he strode up
in his India blazer.
“It is indeed a proud moment for me to be receiving the award.
President Narayanan congratulated me”, said Lata Mangeshkar.
As Vice-President Krishan Kant, Prime Minister Atal Bihari
Vajpayee, Home Minister L.K. Advani and his Cabinet colleagues,
former Prime Minister Inder Kumar Gujral and Congress president
Sonia Gandhi watched, 12 received the Padma Vibhushan. They
included Justice H.R. Khanna (Retd) , former Justice V. R. Krishna
Iyer, Carnatic vocalist D.K. Pattammal and eminent physicist Dr
Rajagopala Chidambaram.
Among the 13 who were conferred Padma Bhushan were Director of
Bhabha Atomic Research Centre Anil Kakodkar and Chief Adviser
(technology) in the Defence Research and Development Organisation
Krishnamurthy Santhanam.
Another outstanding scientist of barc, Mallasamudram Subramanyam
Ramakumar was honoured with the Padma Shri. Eminent painter Satish
Gujral, brother of former Prime Minister I. K. Gujral, received the
Padma Vibhushan as also Verghese Kurien, architect of India’s White
Revolution ‘Operation Flood’.
Distinguished civil servant Lallan Prasad Singh was posthumously
given Padma Vibhushan while Padma Bhushan was given posthumously to
Dominic Chacko Kizhakemuri, popularly known as D.C, freedom fighter
and eminent Malayalam publisher. Manorama Singh received it on
behalf of her late husband, while D.C.’s widow, Ponnama, received
it on behalf of her late husband.
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educational purposes of research and open discussion.
Jai Maharaj
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