The Union Government on Monday announced 130 Padma awards, including six Padma Vibhushans, the country’s second highest civilian honor, for Nobel laureate Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, alumni of Vadodara’s M.S.University.

Dancer Kumudini Lakhia, Mallika Sarabhai and Prof. Madhusudan Amilal Dhaky have been awarded the Padma Bhushan, the country’s third highest civilian honor.

Kumudini Lakhia(1930 born) is Kathak dancer who runs Kadamb dance academy in Ahmedabad. She was awarded Padma Shri in 1987. Mallika Sarabhai is versatile dancer. Prof. Madhusudan Dhaky has contributed amazingly in the field of Art History. His boosk on Jain and Hindu mandirs are well-known among international scholars.

Shri Karsanbhai Khodidas Patel of Nirma group, Prof. Pudcadyil Ittoop John of Institute for Plasma Research, Ahmedabad, and America based Gujarati Dr. Sudhir Parikh have been awarded the Padma Shri, the country’s fourth highest civilian honor.

Shri Karsanbhai is self-made industrialist who once used bicycle to sell his products. Today he is boss of hundreds of laborers who own bicycle. Prof. Pudcadyil is Phd from Aligadh University. He came to Ahmedabad in 1972 to join Physical Research Laboratory here. Later in 80s when Plasma Research Institute came into existence, Prof John joined it. Dr. Sudhir Parikh is well known name among Gujaratis settled in America. Based in NJ he is Allergist and expert doctor of Asthma and immunology. Parikh is philanthropist associated with number of activities related to Gujaratis in America.

The awards comprise six Padma Vibhushans, 43 Padma Bhushans and 81 Padma Shris, the country’s fourth highest civilian award. There are 17 women among the awardees.

Padma Awards, the country’s highest civilian awards, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The awards are given in all 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. The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year.

The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhavan sometime around March/ April. This year the President has approved 130 awards including 13 in the category of Foreigners/ NRIs/ PIOs. These comprise 6 Padma Vibhushan, 43 Padma Bhushan and 81 Padma Shri awards. There are 17 ladies among the awardees.

Full list on this link