TWO FROM NAGALAND RECEIVE PADMA AWARDS

Lentina Ao Thakkar and M Piyongtemjen Jamir were among the 43 prominent people, who were conferred the prestigious Padma awards for 2018 by President Ram Nath Kovind. Vice-President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his ministerial colleagues, and several other dignitaries attended the function at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. Lentina Ao Thakkar, a social worker, and M Piyongtemjen Jamir, a scholar and teacher, from Nagaland were conferred the Padma Shri awards. Lentina, a Gandhian, who served for decades at the Gandhi Ashram in Chuchuyimlang village, Nagaland, demonstrated extraordinary courage to embrace Gadhian values in charged times. Piyongtemjen has taught over 4000 students; 1000 of whom are Hindi teachers today.

This year, as many as 84 Padma awards were announced, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one). The list comprises three Padma Vibhushan, nine Padma Bhushan and 72 Padma Shri awards. The awards Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri are announced on the eve of the Republic Day every year. They are given in different fields and disciplines such as art, literature and education, sports, medicine, social work, science and engineering, public affairs, civil service, trade and industry. Remaining awardees of the Padma awards 2018 would be conferred with the honour at another special function to be held on April 2.