Guwahati: Ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, five individuals from Assam, along with several others from the Northeast, have been included in the list of 113 Padma Award recipients in recognition of their contributions to society.
From Assam, Sattriya exponent Haricharan Saikia, sculptor Nuruddin Ahmed, silk expert Jogesh Deuri, Karbi folk music exponent Pokila Lektepi, and former Union Minister and veteran Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Kabindra Purkayastha (posthumously) have been conferred with the Padma Shri award.
In a post on ‘X’, Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote: “It is a proud moment for us that Late Kabindra Purkayastha Ji has been conferred with the Padma Shri (posthumous) for his contributions to public service. The contributions of all the awardees inspire us all- Assam is immensely proud of their achievements.”
Naresh Chandra Dev Varma from Tripura will receive the award for his work in the field of literature and education, Techi Gubin from Arunachal for social work, Yumnam Jatra Singh (posthumous) from Manipur in the field of art, Sangyusang S Pongener from Nagaland also in the field of art and Hally War from Meghalaya for social work.
The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day and are conferred in three categories – Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a higher order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service. The awards recognise achievements across a wide range of fields and disciplines, particularly those involving public service and social impact.
“Congratulations to all the Padma Awardees for their outstanding contributions to our nation. Their excellence, dedication and service across diverse fields enrich the fabric of our society. The honour reflects the spirit of commitment and excellence that continues to inspire generations,” PM Modi posted on X.
