Six Malayalis were among 34 Indians honoured with Padma Shri, the nation's fourth-highest civilian award, on the eve of the 75th Republic Day.
Late writer and educationist P Chithran Namboodiripad, writer and member of Travancore Royal family Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi, spiritual guru Muni Narayana Prasad, Kathakali Guru Sadanam Balakrishnan, Theyyam folk dancer Narayanan E P and farmer Sathyanarayana Beleri are the Malayalis set to receive the Padma Shri.
Chithran Namboodiripad, who died last June at the age of 103, was an award-winning educationist. He served as Joint Director in the Education Department in Kerala.
Namboodiripad was renowned for visiting religious places in the Himalayas 30 times, a passion he developed at the age of 71.
Gouri Lakshmi Bayi is a member of the Travancore Royal family. She has written on the temples of erstwhile Travancore and Kerala, besides anthologies in English.
Muni Narayana Prasad is the Guru and Head of the Narayana Gurukulam.
Kannur native Narayanan has showcased over 300 performances across 20 variants of Theyyam. In his six-decade-long career, Narayanan has designed Theyyam costumes.
Balakrishnan is a distinguished Kalluvazhi Kathakali artist, who has over 60 years of experience.
Kasaragod native Sathyanarayana is hailed as a guardian of paddy crops for preserving over 650 traditional rice varieties.
Other Padma Shri winners
India's first woman elephant mahout Parbati Baruah famous as "Hasti Kanya", tribal environmentalist Chami Murmu, social worker Sangthankima who runs Mizoram's largest orphanage and plastic surgeon Prema Dhanraj who treats burn victims are among 34 awarded Padma Shri on Thursday.
The list also includes organic farmer from South Andaman K Chellammal, international Mallakhamb coach Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, renowned microbiologist who pioneered development of India's inaugural Sickle Cell Anemia Control Program Yazdi Maneksha Italia, Longpi potter Machihan Sasa from Ukhrul who dedicated five decades to preserve this ancient Manipuri traditional pottery that traces its roots back to the Neolithic period (10,000 BC).
The coveted civilian honour also went to Gaddam Sammaiah theatre artiste Chindu Yakshaganam (from Jangaon) performing this art form for over five decades in over 19,000 shows, Bhilwara's Behrupiya artiste Jankilal, third-generation Burra Veena player from Damaragidda village in Narayanpet Dasari Kondappa, brass Marori craftsperson Babu Ram Yadav and Chhau mask maker Nepal Chandra Sutradhar.
Bamboo craftsman from Mangan Jordan Lepcha, Valli Oyil Kummi folk dancer from Coimbatore Badrappan M, sculptor Sanatan Rudra Pal who specializes in crafting Sabeki Durga idols, Sabda Nrutya folk dancer from Bargarh Bhagabat Padhan are among the other Padma Shri winners.
The list also included Mach theatre artist from Malwa region Omprakash Sharma, Chakma Loinloom shawl weaver from Tripura Smriti Rekha Chakma, Krishna Leela singer from Ganjam Gopinath Swain and first female Harikatha exponent Uma Maheshwari D
Tikuli painter Ashok Kumar Biswas is credited for the revival and modification of the Mauryan era artform through his efforts over last five decades, Bhadu folk singer Ratan Kahar, Godna painters who overcame social stigma to earn global recognition Shanti Devi Paswan and Shivan Paswan have also been awarded Padma Shri.
Tribal farmer from Chirang Sarbeswar Basumatary, tribal welfare worker Somanna, East Siang-based herbal medicine expert Yanung Jamoh Lego, a traditional medicinal practitioner from Narayanpur Hemchand Manjhi, tribal environmentalist from Sindri village, Purulia Dukhu Majhi, divyang social worker from Sirsa Gurvinder Singh and tribal welfare worker from Jashpur Jageshwar Yadav complete the list.
(With PTI inputs)
