By IANS,
New Delhi : Planning Commission Deputy Chairman Montek Singh Ahluwalia, photographer Homai Vyarawalla, Wipro Chairman Azim Premji and actor Shashi Kapoor were among the achievers conferred with the Padma awards by President Pratibha Patil Friday.
Patil gave away the awards at a function at the Rashtrapati Bhawan here which was attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and several union ministers.
Ahluwalia, Vyarawalla, Premji, economist Vijay Kelkar, noted Oriya poet Sitakant Mahapatra, eminent jurist K. Parasaran, Telugu actor A. Nageshwara Rao and eminent metallurgist P. Rama Rao were among those who were honoured with the Padma Vibhushan, the country’s second highest civilian award.
Shashi Kapoor, Rabindra Sangeet exponent Dwijen Mukherjee, ICICI CEO Chanda Kochhar, Chairman of Dr Reddy’s Labs K. Anji Reddy, NIIT founder Chairman Rajendra Singh Pawar, HCL co-founder Ajai Chowdhary, former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran and journalist and author T.J.S. George were decorated with the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian award.
The Padma Shri awardees included Chhau dance exponent Makar Dhwaja Darogha, filmaker Girish Kasaravalli, Warli painter Jivya Soma Mhase, Kathak exponent Sunayana Hazarila and Commonwealth Games gold medal winners Gagan Narang and Krishna Poonia.
C.N. Raghavendran, who has been honoured with Padma Shri, has focused on sustainable and environment friendly principles building construction concepts. He has designed sevral projects in India and abroad.