Mumbai, 5 April 2023

 

The President of India Smt. Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Bhushan to Prof. Deepak Dhar in field of Science & Engineering from Maharashtra in Civil Investiture Ceremony here today. The President of India also conferred Padma Shri to Dr. Parshuram Komaji Khune in field of Art, Shri Gajanan Jagannath Mane in field of Social Work, Ms. Raveena Ravi Tandon in field of Art and Smt. Coomi Nariman Wadia in field of Art.

A brief citation about the life and work of awardees is given below-

1. Prof. Deepak Dhar has been conferred Padma Bhushan in field of Science & Engineering.

Prof. Deepak Dhar is a theoretical physicist, working in the general area of Statistical Physics. His present position is Distinguished Emeritus Professor at Indian Institute of Science Education and Research at Pune.

Born on 30^thOctober, 1951, Prof. Dhar obtained his B.Sc. Degree from the University of Allahabad in 1970 and the M.Sc. (Physics) degree from Indian Institute of Technology, Kanpur, in 1972. He obtained his Ph.D. degree from the California Institute of Technology, Pasadena (USA) in 1978. After this, he joined the Department of Theoretical Physics at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, Mumbai and was a member of the Department till his retirement in 2016.

Prof. Dhar’s notable contributions are the exact solution of the abelian sand pile model of self-organized criticality, and the exact solution of the enumeration problem of directed site animals in lattice statistics, slow relaxation in disordered materials, and exact renormalization studies on fractals. He has also written articles for popularizing Science in school children and organized several training schools for college teachers. Working with a large number of students and collaborators, he has contributed to building a vibrant community of researchers in Statistical Physics in India.

Prof. Dhar is a fellow of the Indian National Science Academy, the National Academy of Sciences of India, Indian Academy of Sciences, and the Third World Academy of Sciences, Trieste. He is also an honorary member of Physical Society of Uzbekistan. He was awarded the prestigious J. C. Bose Fellowship by the Science and Engineering Research Board of the Government of India for the period 2007- 2017.

Prof. Dhar is the recipient of several awards, such as the I.N.S.A. Young Scientist Award (1983), S. S. Bhatnagar Award in Physics (1991), J.R. Schrieffer Prize in Condense Matter Physics (1993), S. N. Bose medal of I.N.S.A. (2001), Third World Academy of Science prize in Physics (2002), Boltzmann Medal (2022), Distinguished Alumnus Award of I.I.T.K.(2022), R. D. Birla Memorial Award of the Indian Physics Association (2022)

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2. Dr. Parshuram Komaji Khune has been conferred Padma Shri in field of Art.

Dr. Parshuram Komaji Khune is known for his outstanding work for the Adivasi and naxal area. He is working as Natyakalavant (Drama Actor) for 50 years in ZadipattiRangabhumi in 800 folk arts and dramas and performed in around 5000 various roles.

Born on 22^nd February, 1952 in small village Gurnoli situated in complete adivasi area and huge forest area of Maharashtra State, Dr. Khune completed his primary education from Z.P. School,Gurnoli and later completed his secondary and higher education from Nawargaon, District Chandrapur. He completedDiploma in Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (D.H.M.S.) from Nagpur.

Dr. Khune worked as an active sarpanch at GurnoliGramPanchyat for 10 years. He worked to overcome superstitions, old customs and traditions from the Adivasis and uneducated people from naxal backward district who had become the victim of it.The impact of his life and his role is unique. Everyone who ever came in his contact in the form of dramas got impressed with his skill. Many youngsters took inspiration from his work and could stand on their own feet. He also works for old artists for their pension. He became their role model of East Vidharbhiyans and Adivasis.

Dr. Khune is known as ‘Dada Kondake of Vidarbha’. He received ShetinishtaPuraskar in 1991 by the Government of Maharashtra for his various inventions in the field of agriculture. In 1992, he received Sunil BhawasarPuraskaar for Juggler's show. In 1993, he was honoured by Kala Gaurav Puraskar. In 1994, he was awarded by the District Administration for participating in Akhil Bhartiya Nehru Yuwa Kendra, Madras. In 1996, he was awarded with Smita Patil SmrutiPuraskar for Manav Mandir, Nagpur. In 2012, he was rewarded by Kala Dan Puraskar by the Government of Maharashtra for his contribution in the field of drama art.

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3. Shri Gajanan Jagannath Mane has been conferred Padma Shri in field of Social Work.

Shri Gajanan Jagannath Mane has been rendering his service to the down trodden community especially in the field of leprosy eradication and rehabilitation of leprosy patients and their families.

Born on 14^th May 1949, Shri Mane completed his basic education and successfully completed boiler competency examination to help him professionally. He joined Indian Navy at the tender age of 16 inspired by the Indo-China war and sacrifices made in it by the soldiers. He participated in the 1971 India Pakistan war and has been awarded the “Sangram Medal” for his participation in the war.

Shri Mane started his work towards leprosy rehabilitation in the year 1991 and till date has been continuing to do so at KushthaSevaSanstha, Hanuman Nagar, earlier known as Hanuman Nagar KushthaRugnaVasahat, Kalyan. The population of this colony is over 800 residents. He has successfully brought control over spreading of Leprosy disease in the area and cured over 500 patients completely by running an in-house dispensary affiliated to Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and A.D.H.S. Maharashtra Government.As a part of the rehabilitation program, he has implemented various programs within the colony which have helped the patients and residents of the colony to earn a livelihood, who otherwise find it difficult to get mainstream employment.Some of the notable projects undertaken in the colony include Candle-making, Chalk sticks making, running of a dairy farm etc. In order to ensure that the future generations are self-dependent and are able to get mainstream employment, education up to graduation for children from the colony is ensured by the Sanstha. This is being done with the help of donations received in the Radha Krishna Temple which was built in the premise of the colony in the year 2000. Patients here are given monthly financial supportby Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and Sanjay Gandhi NiradharYojna.

The rehabilitation center won the first prize for their dairy farm project from Sasakawa Leprosy Foundation, Japan in the year 2011. Patients are taught self-reliance in this colony. Patients and their children are given employment in Kalyan Dombivli Municipal Corporation and private sector. Women are trained for tailoring and tailoring machines are given to them for earning a livelihood.The colony has been able to achieve total control over the spread of this disease.

Shri. Mane has been recipient of many awards, such as “Sangram Medal” for participation in 1971 India Pakistan war; GunwantKamgarPuraskar in 1993 by Government of Maharashtra; KushthaRugnaSevaKarya Puraskar by Ex-servicemen Board, Thane District; KushthaRugnaSevaPuraskar by KalyanDombivli Municipal Corporation; SamajUtthanPuraskar by Government of Maharashtra in 2018 andmany more awards from private institutions like Maharashtra Icon, Kokan Bhushan, Adarsh Dombivlikarpuraskar etc.

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4. Ms. Raveena Ravi Tandon has been conferred Padma Shri in field of Art.

Ms. Raveena Ravi Tandon is a famous multifaceted Indian actor.

Born on 26^th October, 1972, Ms. Tandon is daughter of acclaimed film maker Shri Ravi Tandon.She made her acting debut in 1991 with “PattharKePhool” for which she received her first Filmfare Award. She was nominated for a national award for her performance in ‘Satta’. Her performance in national award winning Shool received universal applause. Films like Dilwale, Mohra, Dulhe Raja, Aks, Ghulam e Mustafa, and many more were commercial blockbusters that Ms Tandon delivered.

Though perilous for a mainstream commercial actor Ms. Tandon decided to give back to society in contributing to the cause of women empowerment. Her ground breaking performances in films like Daman, that dealt with Marital rape, Jaago and Maatr, based on real-life traumatic incidents, garnered critical acclaim and praise from women organisations. A powerful performance in KGF 2 that went on to become the third highest grossing film of all time, Ms Tandon then went on to deliver a strong performance in the Netflix web series Aranyak, embroidered with a socially relevant message that talks about women in uniform and their sacrifices.

Ms. Tandon is also a philanthropist, environmentalist and a wildlife photographer. Hon’ble Prime Minister himself, praised her work on promotion of organ donation. Her Rudra Foundation is doing praiseworthy work for the cause of children, women & animal welfare. During the Covid pandemic, when Oxygen was a scarcity, her foundation ensured truckloads of cylinders were able to reach the needy. She is the Wildlife Goodwill Ambassador of Maharashtra and also the first participant from the entertainment industry to be a delegate at W20. From commercial to art house cinema, from rank entertainers to socially relevant films; from taking up women’s causes to wildlife concerns,her journey is worth emulating and honouring.

Ms. Tandon has received numerous awards.She received National Film Awards, India 2001 for Daman: A Victim of Marital Violence; Filmfare award, Critics Award for Best Actress and Screen Award for best supporting actress for Aks; Dada Saheb PhalkeFilm Academy Award 2017, Lions Gold Award 2018 for Mattr;Dada Saheb Phalke Best Actress Award 2021, Filmfare OTT Awards 2022 for Aranyak.She also Society AchieverInternational Film Festival Award; Best Actress Awardfor Aranyak, Filmfare OTT Awards, IWM Digital Awards, Hindustan times; Navbharat times Actor par Excellence, ANANDALOK, ABP PURASKAR for Aranyak; ITA Special Award Scroll of Honour; Stardust Award, Indian Cinema’s Real Power women 2022.

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5. Smt. Coomi Nariman Wadia has been conferred Padma Shri in field of Art.

Smt. Coomi Nariman Wadia is the Chairperson and Conductor of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus. She is India’s first female conductor of choral music and is recognised internationally for her definitive first performances of new music, not only in india, but from all over the world. She has been the Music Director and Conductor of the Paranjoti Academy Chorus for the past 56 years.

Born on 6^thAugust, 1933, Smt. Wadia received her Diploma in Commercial Art from the Sir JamsetjeeJeejeebhoy School of Art, Mumbai. Concurrently, she was trained as a pianist and won Palamkote Awards for both her Associate (ATCL) and Licentiate (LTCL) diplomas of the Trinity College of Music, London.

The Paranjoti Academy Chorus founded by Dr. Victor Paranjoti was the first Indian choir to go on a concert tour of Europe in 1961. As a teenager, Smt. Wadia joined Dr. Paranjoti’s chorus as a soprano, and soon, her exemplary musicianship and innate leadership skills saw her in a quasi-assistant conductor role to the maestro. On the death of Dr. Paranjoti in 1967, she picked up the baton and took the already internationally acclaimed chorus to new heights. Besides performing in major cities all over India, the choir has performed in concerts, festivals, and radio and television broadcasts in Europe, the USA, the Middle East, Japan, Philippines and South Korea.

Smt. Wadia besides championing compositions by Dr. Victor Paranjoti, commissioned Indian composers like Shri Abel D’Cruz, Shri J Amaldev, and Shri Nariman Wadia to write for the Chorus. The legendary composer Shri Vanraj Bhatia (Padma Shri awardee) wrote four works especially for the Paranjoti Academy Chorus. Hundreds of Indian singers and instrumentalists have performed concerts, often their Indian debuts, under her baton.

In 1972, Smt. Wadia represented India at the inauguration of the Kennedy Center, Washington, and at the Choral Festival at the Lincoln Centre, New York. She won first prize at the IX International Choral Song Festival in Poland in 1974, and second prize in the IX International Choral Festival in Tolosa, Spain in 1977, where the Mayor also awarded her the Golden Olive. At the Stuttgart Partnersingen Sister Cities Festival in 1981, she was selected to conduct the final concert with over 700 singers. In 1991, Pandit Ravi Shankar invited the choir to perform his compositions in the One India Show. In 2000, His Holiness the Dalai Lama invited the Chorus to perform at the World Festival of Sacred Music in Bangalore. In 2005, she represented India at the 7^th World Symposium on Choral Music in Kyoto, Japan. In 2009 and 2011, she and the Chorus were invited by the Government of India to perform Christmas music at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi, for the then President of India, Smt. Pratibha Patil.

Smt. Wadia was awarded the Laadli of the Century award by the Laadli Media & Advertising Awards for Gender Sensitivity for her trailblazing and inspirational work in 2018.

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