Karnataka’s list of 30 ignored; Good news for SL Bhyrappa, 10 others

Bengaluru, Jan 26: Eleven personalities from across disciplines, including a few controversial figures, have been chosen from Karnataka for the prestigious Padma awards. Of them only three were shortlisted from a list of names the Siddaramaiah government had sent to a high-level screening committee. Eight other personalities including Shri Shri Ravishankar and controversial writer SL Bhyrappa have been chosen for the award without recommendation from the State.

Hindustani classical singer Venkatesh Kumar, ophthalmologist M M Joshi and Madhu Pandit Dasa from Iskcon were picked from a list of 30 names sent by the State to the awards screening committee, which identified others from Karnataka taking into consideration their contribution to various fields.

Though selecting names from the list sent by a state is not mandatory for the panel, the Central government this time was very selective in identifying personalities for the top award.

A high-level panel headed by the Union Home secretary shortlists the names. The panel, which also has members comprising officials and well-known personalities from different fields, sends the shortlisted names to the intelligence agency for vetting, following which it is sent to the prime minister for his view. After taking the prime minister’s opinion, the same is sent to President of India for final approval.

The Karnataka government had recommended two names for Padma Vibhushan, nine for Padma Bhushan and 19 for Padma Shri awards.

Former scientific adviser to the Defence Minister, Vasudev Kalkunte Aatre (Science and Engineering), and Art of Living founder Shri Shri Ravishankar (Spiritualism) were chosen for the Padma Vibhushan.

The nine who have been honoured with the Padma Shri are: S.L. Bhyrappa (Literature), M.M. Joshi (Medicine-Ophthalmology), John Ebnezar (Medicine-Orthopaedic Surgery), H.R. Nagendra (Yoga), Mylswamy Annadurai (Science and Engineering), Dipankar Chatterji (Science and Engineering), and M. Pandit Dasa (Social Work). Renowned Telugu film-maker S.S. Rajamouli, hailing from Raichur, also figures on the Karnataka list.