From 100-year-old freedom fighter to 96-year-old puppeteer, 30 unsung heroes awarded Padma Shri

A 100-year old freedom fighter from Goa, a Dhak player from West Bengal who trained 150 women in the male-dominated field and India’s first woman puppeteers, who is 96. They are among 30 unsung heroes from diverse fields who were awarded Padma Shri on Saturday.

Libia Lobo Sardesai, who played an important role in Goa’s freedom movement, cofounded an underground radio station — ’Voz da Liberdabe (Voice of Freedom)’ — in a forested area in 1955 to rally people against the Portuguese rule.

She has been awarded the Padma Shri by the President on the occasion of 76th Republic Day.

Also among the awardees is Gokul Chandra Dey, a 57-year old Dhak player from West Bengal who broke the gender stereotype by training 150 women in the male-dominated field, according to a government statement.

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Dey also created a lightweight Dhak type, 1.5 kg less than the conventional instrument, and represented India at various international platforms and performed with Maestros like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain.

A vocal advocate of woman empowerment, 82-year old Sally Holkar transformed once dying Maheshwari craft and founded Handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh, to give training in traditional weaving techniques.

Born in America and Inspired by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy, she devoted five decades of her life to revitalise 300-year-old weaving legacy.

She has also been awarded Padma Shri.

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Wildlife researcher and Marathi author Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli (92) who gave unique dictionaries on birds, animals and trees; 68-year old bhajan singer Batool Begum from Jaipur who is the only Rajasthani female to have performed at the Town Hall of Paris, percussionist Velu Aasaan (58) from Tamil Nadu who is standardising and reviving traditional Parai Isai art form are among the awardees.

Togalu Gombeyaata (leather puppetry) master puppeteer Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara, who was one of the first women to practise the art form, has also been awarded Padma Shri. The 96-year old ’Grandmother of Gombeyaata’ mastered the art just 14 and has performed in more than 12 countries.

Lavjibhai Nagjibhai (64), a Tangaliya weaver from Dangasia community in Surendranagar Parmar; Vijayalakshmi Deshamane, veteran oncologist from Kalaburgi who provides free treatment to poor cancer patients; and Chaitram Devchand Pawar, who conserved 400 hectare of forest in Maharashtra, are also among the unsung heroes who have been given the coveted award.

Pandi Ram Mandavi, a traditional tribal musician and the creator of bamboo wind whistle called ’Sulur’ or ’Bastar flute’, is also amoing the awardees.

Radha Bahin Bhatt, 91-year old social activist from Uttarakhand who works for the education of girl child, environment protection and who actively participated in famous ’chipko andolan’, social worker from Gujarat Suresh Soni, who is working for leprosy patients and specially abled, have also been honoured with the award.

Tribal musician Joynacharan Bathari from Assam, who has dedicated 60 years of his life for the preservation and propagation of Dimasa folk music, Yoga practitioner from Kuwait Shaikha AJ Al Sabah, Nepali folk singer Gangtok Naren Gurung and former head of Gaynaecology Department of AIIMS Delhi, Neerja Bhatla, who played a key role in creating guidelines for cervical cancer, have also been given Padma Shri in the unsung heroes category.