India honours 45 ‘unsung heroes’ with Padma Award

Created On: 26 Jan 2026 9:04 AM IST

Applications invited for Padma Awards

New Delhi: This year’s Padma Awards have brought national recognition to a wide group of unsung heroes from across India. Following the spirit of the “People’s Padma”, the awards celebrate ordinary Indians who have made extraordinary contributions through lifelong service to society.

India has chosen 45 civilians for the coveted Padma Awards under the ‘Unsung heroes’ category. A former bus conductor who set up the world’s largest free-access library, a paediatrician who formed Asia’s first human milk bank, and a 90-year-old rare musical instrument player were among 45 individuals from across the country chosen for the Padma Shri award in the category on the occasion of Republic Day. Among the names is Anke Gowda, once a bus conductor, set up the world’s largest free-access library, ‘Pustak Mane’, comprising more than two million books in 20 languages along with rare manuscripts. The 75-year-old bibliophile from Haralahalli village near Mysuru in Karnataka has been chosen for the Padma Shri for his unique effort to empower learners across India.

Joining him will be Armida Fernandes, the Mumbai-based paediatrician who set up Asia’a first human milk bank, improving the survival prospects of infants, Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, a 90-year old tribal Tarpa player – a musical instrument made of bottle gourd and bamboo – from Maharashtra, and distinguished social worker from Jammu and Kashmir, Brij Lal Bhat, among others.