Five people from Bihar have been selected for Padma awards this year. Former union minister Ram Vilas Paswan will be conferred Padma Bhushan (posthumous), while four people including former Governor of Goa Mridula Sinha, will be conferred Padma Shri.

Padma Bhushan is the third highest civilian honour in the country, while Padma Shri is the fourth highest. Total 119 Padma awards were announced on the eve of 72^nd Republic Day. This includes seven Padma Vibhushan, 10 Padma Bhushan and 102 Padma Shri.

Mridula Sinha, who served as the governor of Goa from August 2014 to October 2019 will be conferred Padma Shri posthumously. She died on 18^th November 2020. Sinha will be conferred the award for her extraordinary contribution in the filed of literature and education. 

Dulari Devi, a Madhubani painting artist, will be conferred Padma Shri for the contribution in filed of art. Devi is a renowned Madhubani painting artist. She was also conferred Bihar State Award for Excellence in Art 2012-13.  

Ramachandra Manjhi, who is credited for taking forward a famous art form of Bhojpur belt after the demise of Bhikhari Thakur in 1971, will be conferred Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of art. Manjhi is considered to be the last living artist of the theatre troupe of veteran Bhojpuri poet, lyricist, folk dancer and social activist Bhikhari Thakur.

Dr Dilip Kumar Singh will be conferred Padma Shri for his contribution in the field of medicine. Dr. Singh is from Pirpainti block of Bhagalpur district. He is a general medical practitioner. 93 year old Dr Singh has spent major part of his career as a practising doctor in rural areas. Dr Singh started medical practice in Pirpainti in 1952, when there was no electricity and roads. He used to go to villages on Horseback.

Padma awards are announced every year on the eve of Republic Day. These awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/ April every year.

“We are proud of all those who have been conferred the Padma Awards. India cherishes their contribution to the nation and humanity at large. These exceptional individuals from different walks of life have brought qualitative changes in the lives of others,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi said in a tweet lauding the contribution of people who have been listed for the awards.

Padma awards, one of the highest civilian honours in the country, are given in various disciplines/ fields of activities, viz.- art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, etc. ‘Padma Vibhushan’ is awarded for exceptional and distinguished service; ‘Padma Bhushan’ for distinguished service of high order and ‘Padma Shri’ for distinguished service in any field.

This year 29 of the awardees are women. The list of awardees this year also includes 10 persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, 16 Posthumous awardees and 1 transgender awardee.

Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed pleasure on selection of five people for Padma awards this year. In a message Kumar congratulated all the awardees.

The country’s highest civilian award Bharat Ratna was not announced this year.

Meanwhile, Nitish Kumar demanded that Bihar’s former chief minister and veteran socialist leader Karpoori Thakur should be honoured with Bharat Ratna. “It is our wish (khwahish) that Bharat Ratna should be conferred on Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur,” Kumar said in a tweet.

Kumar said that he has recommended for conferring Bharat Ratna to Karpoori Thakur five times. Apart from this year, Kumar sent his recommendation to the centre in 2007, 2017, 2018 and 2019.

Leader of Opposition in Bihar Assembly Tejashwi Yadav also supported the demand for conferring Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur.

However, Yadav criticised NDA government for not conferring Bharat Ratna to the socialist leader, who is known for his simplicity and honesty in public life. 

“Bharat Ratna for Jan Nayak Karpoori Thakur is our old demand. Why is the double engine government of the NDA not conferring the Bharat Ratna to Jan Nayak, despite the NDA having 39 of the total 40 Lok Sabha members from Bihar?,” Yadav said in a tweet in Hindi.

He suggested that Bihar chief minister should meet the Prime Minister to press for the demand of conferring Bharat Ratna on Karpoori Thakur. 

Complete list of the Padma awardees:

Padma Vibhushan (7)

Padma Bhushan (10)

Padma Shri (102)