9 from AP figure in awards

Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh has a rich harvest of Padma awards this year. The state has bagged as many as nine of the awards announced on the eve of the Republic Day on Saturday.

Badminton player-turned coach Pullela Gopichand and Dr Anumolu Ramakrishna, doyen Of Indian construction industry (posthumously) were the two Telugus who were awarded Padma Bhushan in recognition of the distinguished services of high order extended by them. Seven others from the state were awarded Padma Shri for the services rendered by them in their respective fields. They include Dr Sundararajan Govindan, a scientist at Defence Metallurgical Research Laboratory, Hyderabad. Other Padma Shri awardees are Mohammad Ali Baig (Art- theatre), Dr MYS Prasad (Science and Engineering), Ravi Kumar Narra (Trade and Industry), Dr Rama Rao Anumolu (Social work), Dr Sarebeswar Sahariah ( Medicine- Surgery), Prof Kolakaluri Enoch ( Literature and Education).

The awards will be conferred by the President at a ceremonial function to be held at Rashtrapati Bhavan Bhawan usually around March or April. This year, the President has approved conferment of 127 Padma Awards – two Padma Vibhushan, 24 Padma Bhushan and 101 Padma Shree awards – one of the highest civilian awards for prominent personalities in the country. .

Chief Coach of Indian badminton, Pullela Gopichand, is elated at having been bestowed the coveted Padma Bhushan in the year’s roll of honours. “It indicates that the contributions are getting recognised. I am happy that badminton has been in the spotlight. It is even more heartening that this comes after the Pullela Gopichand Badminton Academy (PGBA) received the President’s Medal last year. I am also happy that this comes on the day when two the of the Academy’s leading lights, Saina Nehwal and P V Sindhu have made it to the finals of India Open. I hope more men players will be honoured with the Arjuna next time round,” he said.

“It is an award for entire Hyderabad theatre fraternity,” said Mohammad Ali Baig. “The theatre revival I am doing could make city the centre-stage for the world and a tribute to my father. I am honoured. It’s certainly one of the most fulfilling awards of my life, because, the award recognizes what my family has been doing since the last several decades,” he said, adding. “I dedicate this award to Baba, late Qadir Ali Baig Sahib.”

Professor Kolakaluri Enoch said he was happy to get Padma Shri. He thanked the union and the state governments for recognising his services in the area of literature and education. “It is a wonderful experience and I feel great.” He said his thrust areas are creative and critical writings in Telugu. Enoch said he would continue to contribute his services to Telugu literature. “I would also strive for the promotion of Telugu language,” he added.

Ravi Kumar Narra, an entrepreneur, said: “I’m really excited. Inclusive growth of the country is possible only when Dalit entrepreneurs are encouraged. Dalit capitalism must be encouraged as in the case of black capitalism in America. More support for SC and ST capitalists is the need of the hour,” he stressed.

Dr Anumolu Ramakrishna, who got the Padma VIbhushan posthumously, served as the President, Deputy Managing Director and Advisor of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. He also served as the Operational Head of ECC Construction Division of Larsen & Toubro Ltd. He provided leadership for the construction of scores of cement plants, steel plants, power projects, refineries, petrochemical complexes, bridges, harbours, airports and nuclear power plants in and outside India.

“Definitely it is expected. Government recognized my services at the right time. Really it is a very great feeling. I strongly felt that my contributions to the medical field would one day bestow such prestigious honour,” said Dr Sarbeswar Sahariah, the vice chairman of KIMS Hospital, Hyderabad. “I am involved in research work in the field of organ transplantation. I got many awards for my extraordinary medical services,” he said, adding, “I performed the first successful renal transplant operation in the state of Andhra Pradesh in May 1981, and since then I have performed more than 3,000 such operations, which is perhaps the largest by a single surgeon in the country.”