Padma Awards 2026: President Confers Honours on Three Karnataka Luminaries

Civil Investiture at Rashtrapati Bhavan

President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma awards on three eminent personalities from Karnataka at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan on Monday. The three recipients were recognised for their exceptional contributions in the fields of art, literature, and social work.

The highest civilian honour among the three, the Padma Vibhushan, was awarded to a veteran social reformer from the state. The Padma Bhushan went to a celebrated writer, while a classical dancer received the Padma Shri.

The Recipients and Their Contributions

The Padma Vibhushan was conferred on 86-year-old social activist Shankaralinge Gowda, who has spent over five decades working for the uplift of rural communities in the Malnad region. He established a chain of free residential schools for underprivileged children in Chikkamagaluru district.

Dr. P. Lankesh, the renowned Kannada novelist and playwright, received the Padma Bhushan. His literary works, which include over 30 books, have been translated into several Indian languages. Dr. Lankesh was also the founder-editor of the influential Kannada literary journal Ankita.

The Padma Shri was awarded to Smt. B. Jayamma, a 72-year-old exponent of the Mysore style of Bharatanatyam. She has been teaching the dance form for 45 years at her academy in Bengaluru and has trained over 2,000 students.

Significance of the Honours

The Padma awards, announced annually on Republic Day, are among India's highest civilian honours. They are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a high order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in any field.

This year's ceremony marked the first time that all three awardees from Karnataka were from non-metropolitan backgrounds. Officials noted that the recognition reflected the government's focus on honouring grassroots contributors.

Karnataka Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai congratulated the awardees on social media, calling them “pride of the state.” The state's cultural affairs department plans to organise special felicitation events for the three awardees in Bengaluru next month.

All three recipients were presented with the award medallion and a sanad (certificate) by the President. The ceremony was attended by family members of the awardees, senior government officials, and dignitaries from the cultural sector.

With these three awards, the total number of Padma awardees from Karnataka since 1954 has risen to 187. The state continues to be among the top five states in terms of civilian award recipients.

The investiture ceremony for the remaining Padma awardees from other states will be held over the next two days at Rashtrapati Bhavan.