NEW DELHI: J.R.D. Tata the Doyen of Indian industry Saturday was conferred Bharat Ratna the country’s highest civilian award. Eighty-eight-year old Tata known to his friends and admirers as JRD was a pioneer in the country’s civil aviation. He was the first pilot to qualify in India and he piloted the inaugural air service between Karachi and Bombay in October 1932.
Prominent among the recipients of the Padma Vibhushan awards are veteran leader and former external affairs minister Swaran Singh freedom fighter Aruna Asaf Ali Bharatiya Janata Party leader Atal Behari Vajpayee noted classical singer Mallikarjun Mansoor noted Cardiologist
Dr.Padmavati, Andhra Pradesh’s CPI leader Ravi Narayan Reddy, an anti-establishment writer Kalyji Narayan Rao, film producer V Shantaram (Posthumous), social worker Govind bhai Shroff, philosopher Pandit Lakshman Shastri Joshi and CPI leader Ravi Narayan Readily (Poshamanss)
The recipients of Padma Bhushan awards include noted playback singer Talat Mahmood, flautist Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Sitarist Debu Chaudhary, film actress Saroja Devi, Telugu poet C Narayana Reddy, vocalist C R ‘Vyas, playright and actor Girish Karnad, Danseuse Mrinalini Sarabhai, music director Naushad ali historian Romila Thapar, classical dance exponent Sonal ‘Mansingh and camation violinist Prof. TN Krishnan.
The Padma Shriawardees include noted industrialist and owner of the “Malayala Manorama” K.MMammen Mapillai, noted ‘Ayurveda expert and honorary physician to the president Rajvaid Brahaspati_ Dev Triguna, Bharantnatyam dancer Chitra Visveswaran, Gujarati writer Gulabdas broker, film personali ties Manoj Kumar, Jaya Bachchan, ‘K Vishwanathan and Tapan Sinha, journalist Mark Tully, mountaineer Hukum Singh, wildlife expert Kailash Singh Sankhala, music director KalyanjiVeesji Shah, ‘writer Krishnan Nairalias Krishna Chaitanya, sculptor M Muthiam Sthapati, Odissi Guru. Pankaj ‘Charan Das, athlete Sriram Singh ‘and vocalist Srirangam Gopalaratnam.
J.N. Saxena till recently director ‘general of police, of the strike tom, northern most Indian state of Jammu and Kashmir, Sunday was, ‘conferred Paadma Shri, one of the high civilian honors annually conferred by the Indian president on Republic day. The name of Saxena ‘was recommended for the award. And his name has been added to the list of awardees. Saxena, who had been leading the battle against Kashmiri militants for the last two years, is recovering from injuries received in an explosion at his, office in Srinagar Friday.
‘The “Bharat Ratna” was conferred on freedom fighters Maulana Abul Kalam Azad and ‘Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose post humously.
Lt. General Ajai Singh, leading the Army’s operation Rhino in Assam, Lt. Gen. Harwant Singh, heading a crucial corp in northern. sector, and Air Marshal S.K Kaul are among 302 services officers decorated with Param VishistSeva ‘Medal, Kirti Chakra, Vir Chakra, ‘Shaurya Chakra, Avsm, VSM, ‘Sena medals, Noo Sena Medaland. ‘Vayu Seva medals on the Republic day.
Lt. Gen Vijay Madan, till recently leading an anti-insurgency corp in northeast, Lt. Gen F-T Dias, heading a corps engaged in operation R. Rakshak in Punjab, vice admiral Kasz Raju, Foc-in-C southern Naval Command, Vice Admiral S.W.Lakhar Director General ‘Coast Guard and Air Marshal Sukdidev Singh are some of the recipients of the PVSM, the Nation’s highest peace time award for distinguished service of exceptional order.
Among the eight Kirti Chakra gallantry award winners, Subedar Nopa Ram, Naik Hari Singh of 4 Rajaputana rifles and Sepoy. ‘Swaran Singh have been honored posthumously for exceptional gallantry during anti-militancy ‘operations in Jammu and. Kashmir.
Capt. Vijay Kumar of the Dogra regiment has been decorated with Vir Chak for taking part in Army ‘operations to clear Kerni village ‘of in trading Pakistani troops in the Poonch sector,
Of the 12 Shaurya Chakra winners five have been awarded posthumously. They include Sudershan Kumar of Amritsar Hiavildar Man Bahadur Gurung of Jammu and Kashmir rifles Hav T.D. Nimse of Maratha light infantry for gallantry also in anti-militancy operations.
Two officers Brig. A.B Masih and FLTLL Pradeep Gupia, have been ‘decorated with Utiam Yudh Seva medal and Yudh Seva medal for IPKF operations.
Article extracted from this publication >> February 7, 1992
