Dar from Jammu and Kashmir is a well-known walnut wood carving craftsperson with over 60 years of experience creating a wide range of products.
“I’ve worked extremely hard to learn this craft. God has rewarded me for all of my hardships. There wasn’t anyone to teach me. There are many ‘ustads’ who practice the crafts you see… If the young people are interested, they can look up to me. I’ll teach them. Dar told ANI that mastering the craft takes time.
This year’s list of Padma Awardees includes 132 names, including two duo cases (in which the award is counted as one), as shown below. The list includes five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri awards.
Thirty of the awardees are women, with eight coming from the categories of foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), and nine posthumous awardees.
The Padma Awards, established in 1954, are one of India’s highest civilian honours and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
The awards are divided into three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service).
The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activity or discipline that involve some form of public service.
The Padma Awards are given based on recommendations from the Padma Awards Committee, which is appointed by the Prime Minister every year.
The Cabinet Secretary chairs the Awards Committee, which includes the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent members. The committee’s recommendations are submitted to the Prime Minister and President of India for approval.
Last year, the government announced 106 Padma Awards, which included three duo cases. The list later included six Padma Vibhushans, nine Padma Bhushans, and 91 Padma Shri Awards.
Nineteen of the awardees were women, and the list included two foreigners (NRI, PIO, and OCI), as well as seven posthumous awardees.