New Delhi/Mumbai : 9 May, 2024

 

The President of India Smt Droupadi Murmu conferred Padam Bhushan to Shri Hormusji N. Cama, Dr. Ashwin Balachand Mehta, Shri Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma and Shri Kundan Ramanlal Vyas in the fields of Literature and Education, Medicine, Art, and Literature and Education, respectively.

The President also conferred Padam Shri to Shri Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, Dr. Chandrashekhar Mahadeorao Meshram and Shri Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar in the fields of Sports, Medicine and Social Work, respectively.

All the awardees hail from Maharashtra.

Brief citations about the life and work of the awardees are given below-

Shri Hormusji N. Cama (Padam Bhushan)

Shri Hormusji N. Cama is the Chairman and the Managing Director of the Mumbai Samachar, Asia’s oldest newspaper in any language and has been instrumental in the promotion and spread of Indian languages and in particular Gujarati, the language of the Mumbai Samachar.

2. Born on 13^th February, 1961, Shri Cama received his Bachelor of Science Degree from the University of Mumbai. In and around 1982, he was instrumental in designing Gujarati fonts for computers with a British Company Linotype, and was instrumental in getting computer keyboards made in the Gujarati script to enable photo type setting in the Gujarati language, and subsequent printing on the then modern technology of using photo-polymer printing plates instead of traditional cast iron plates in use at that time.

3. Shri Cama believes that reading a newspaper being one of the first morning activities of people, should bring a smile on the face of the reader and the news should give the reader a feel good factor. He has chaired The Press Trust of India, Indian Newspaper Society, Audit Bureau of Circulations, Media Research Users Council, Readership Studies Council of India, Commonwealth Press Union India Chapter, and has been a nominated member of the Press Council of India for nine years.

4. Shri Cama has been the recipient of numerous awards and honours for his contribution to promotion of Indian languages and has been particularly active in encouraging reading habits of people by holding Gujarati book fairs, encouraging Gujarati authors by distributing their books and sponsoring Gujarati plays thereby spreading the use of the language.

Dr. Ashwin Balachand Mehta (Padam Bhushan)

Dr. Ashwin Balachand Mehta is a renowned Cardiologist having illustrious career of over 5 decades.

2.  Born on 3^rd March 1939, Dr. Mehta has been a brilliant student at all examinations and secured 19 gold medals & Distinctions at MD & MBBS examinations. He provided completely free service from 1967 onwards for more than 30 years to Sion General Hospital. He organised free check-up camps & treated patients free at Sion Hospital, Mahavir Heart Foundation, U N Mehta Hospital Ahmedabad and at places like Rajkot, Porbundar, Kolhapur, Dapoli etc and also taught the art of Angioplasty to the local Doctors. He has taught cardiology to hundreds of undergraduates and postgraduate doctors. He was Invited Teacher at France, Japan, China, Italy, U.S.A., Sri Lanka and Singapore for demonstrating techniques of Angioplasty. During his assignment at LTMG Sion Hospital (completely free), he has treated thousands of patients free of cost; providing them the treatment with high-grade technology of Cardiology. He set up state-of-the-art Cardiovascular Departments both at Jaslok and L.T.M. Medical College, Mumbai.

3. During his exemplary career, Dr. Mehta has numerous milestones to his credit like Pioneer in starting Angiography in 1973 and Angioplasty in 1988; one of the first one to start Catheterization in new-born babies in 1973; first one to start his Bundle Electrography in 1974-75; first one to start 2D- Echocardiography in Maharashtra. He pioneered in starting Primary Angioplasty in acute Myocardial Infarction and published the first paper on the same subject in 1993. He is the first one to implant medicated drug eluting stent in India in 2002; one of the pioneers in starting Percutaneous Cardio-pulmonary support assisted angioplasty and first one to perform a Trans-catheter Aortic Valve Replacement in Western India in 2013.

4. Dr. Mehta has won several awards for his contribution to cardiology and service to Humanity like Padma Shri Award in 2004; Maharashtra Gaurav Award by the Government of Maharashtra in 2004;Andreas Gruentzig Memorial Award; Golden Contribution Award received at AICT 2012 at New Delhi; Life Time Achievement Award at the 1^st IJCTO meet, at Mumbai; Life Time Achievement Award at CSI Conference 2018and by the Asia Pacific Vascular Intervention Couse society; “Dronacharya of Interventional Cardiology” award by Continuous Medical Education Award & Summit 2019; first JaslokRatna Award by the Trustees & Management of Jaslok Hospital & Research Centre in the year 2020; Excellence in Cardiology Award at The Times Healthcare Leaders Award 2021; Excellence in Cardiology Award, VisheshPuraskar from Master Dinanath Mangeshkar Smriti Pratishthan for exemplary contribution to the field ofCardiology.

Shri Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma (Padam Bhushan)

Shri Pyarelal Ramprasad Sharma, one half of the acclaimed Music Maestros, Laxmikant-Pyarelal, is considered one of the most celebrated Violin and Piano Virtuosos of Indian Film Music, besides being one of the most successful Film Music Composers and Conductors of all time.

2. Born on 3^rd September 1940, Shri Pyarelal Sharma is the son of the renowned trumpeter, Pt. Ramprasad Sharma who, along with the famous Goan violinist, Sh. Anthony Gonsalves, taught him the intricacies of playing the violin.

3. Shri Pyarelal Sharma, along with late Shri Laxmikant actively composed for over 6 decades from the 1950s to the 2000s. They composed for over 800 Hindi and regional films, giving blockbuster music in every decade.  The first released movie under their music direction was ‘Parasmani’.  Its songs “Wo jab yaad aaye’ & “Hasta hua noorani chehra” became very popular.  The same was followed by songs “Chahunga mein tuje saanjh savere” and “Rahi manwa” of Rajshree Production’s film “Dosti” (1964). They won their first Filmfare Best Music Director award for “Dosti”. 

4. Shri Pyarelal Sharma along with late Shri Laxmikant gave a large number of musically hit films such as Milan, Shagird, Intaquam, Do Raaste, Jeene ki Raah, Shor, Bobby, Roti Kapda aur Makaan, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Amar Akbar Anthony, Sargam, Karz, Ek Duje ke liye, Tezaab, Utsav etc. The legendary singers Lata Mangeshkar and Mohammed Rafi sang the maximum songs in their career for them, namely, 712 and 379, respectively and Kishore Kumar and Asha Bhosle sang the second highest member of songs for any composer, 402 and 494 respectively.  They composed with other leading singers like Mukesh, Manna Dey and  Mahendra Kapoor and also with present singers like Alka Yagnik, Udit Narayan, K. J.Yesudas,  S.P Balasubrahmaniyam, Anuradha Paudwal etc.  Their association with the famous lyricist Anand Bakshi in more than 250 movies resulted in some of the most popular songs of the Hindi Cinema.

5. Shri Pyarelal Sharma, at the age of 84, is still as relevant and prolific as ever-the ultimate youth icon. Besides his numerous mega-blockbuster stage shows around the world, he composed a Symphony, ‘Om Shivam’ #1 and #2 which was performed by world class musicians of MDR Classic in Leipzig, Germany on 4^th  June, 2016.

6. Shri Pyarelal Sharma, along with late Laxmikant won 7 Filmfare awards for Best Music for the film Dosti, Milan, Jeene ki Raah, Amar Akbar Anthony, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Sargam, Karz, third highest ever, and highest ever 25 nominations. They won 4 Filmfare Awards in a row at the height of their glory for Amar Akbar Anthony, Satyam Shivam Sundaram, Sargam, and Karz.

Shri Kundan Ramanlal Vyas (Padam Bhushan)

Shri Kundan RamanlalVyas is the Chief Editor of the Janmabhoomi Group of Newspapers. These Newspapers, founded by visionary freedom fighter Shri AmritlalSheth during the freedom struggle of India,are part of the freedom movement.The Group includes Janmabhoomi from Mumbai (90 yrs), Phulchhab from Rajkot (102 yrs), Kutchmitra from Bhuj (75 yrs) and country's first financial Newspaper Vyapar (Gujarati & Hindi). He has a vast experience of over six decades in journalism. He has been associated with prestigious professional organisations.

2.Born on 5^th December, 1941, Shri Vyas is a Graduate in Arts and Law from University of Mumbai. He had a passion for journalism and started his career in the field of journalism from 1961-62. He joined Janmabhoomi Group in the year 1964. In the year 1967, he was appointed as the Chief of Janmabhoomi Group News Bureau at New Delhi. For more than three decades he had an opportunity of witnessing and reporting the political, economic and social developments from very close quarters. His daily political commentary "Delhi Durbaar" was very popular amongst the readers.

3.Shri Vyas had witnessed and reported the political upheaval of the year 1969, which marked a new chapter in political history. He was War Correspondent during India-Pakistan war of 1971. He also covered important international conferences held in India and abroad. He was accredited to parliament for "Long and Distinguished Service". He was the member of Press Gallery Advisory Board of the Lok Sabha (1978-1980). He was also the Joint Secretary to The Press Advisory Committee, appointed by Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha (1993-94). He was given the responsibility as the Group Editor of Janmabhoomi Group of Newspapers, Mumbai in 1996.

4.With his rich experience, he has penned few books in Gujarati, namely"Kargil Katha AneVyatha": Based on his experience as a War Correspondent; "Delhi Durbaar - Nehru Thi Narendra Modi": Two volumes of historical-political events, and "Ek Patrakaar Ni Vyavsay Katha: An autobiography of a journalist”. He has been Member of Press Council of India (2004-2011) and (2014-2017), President of Indian Languages News Association (2003-2005), President of Indian Newsaper Society (2010-2011) and Member of the Editors' Guild of India.

5.Shri Vyas is the recipient of numerous awards and honours to name a few DAG HAMMERSKJOLD Fellowship of United Nations (1976), UN HQ,New York, Lokmanya Tilak Award (2014), Dr. HarivanshraiBacchanPatrakaarPuraskar(2003) and  Priyadarshini Award (1999).

Shri Uday Vishwanath Deshpande (Padam Shri)

Shri Uday Vishwanath Deshpande, popularly known as ‘Mallakhamb Vishwa Guru’ has been the Honorary General Secretary and Chief Coach of the 98-year-old premier, pioneer, physical education institution, the Shree SainarthaVyayam Mandir, Dadar, for the last 42 years. He is also the Founder Director and Honorary Secretary of Vishw'aMallakhamb Federation, through which he conducted two Mallakhamb World Championships, in which 15 countries participated. He is instrumental in starting National Mallakhamb Federations in other countries.

2.Born on July 20, 1953 Shri Deshpande joined Customs and Central Excise Department and retired as Deputy Commissioner in 2013. A Wrestling and Mallakhamb enthusiast from childhood, all his personal time was dedicated to promoting the dying Indian Physical Culture of Mallakhamb. He had realized early the potential that Mallakhamb held for the health, fitness and quality of life at the level of the individual, the community and for all of humankind. At the tender age of 18, he vowed to nurture and revive Mallakhamb and began his tireless, passionate work.

3.Across 50 years, Shri Deshpande has travelled to every district in Maharashtra, every state in India and conducted thousands of Mallakhamb workshops, across all socio-economic groups, reaching even those most marginalized. He is credited with having trained over 1000 Mallakhamb enthusiasts from more than 52 countries, and has conducted several Mallakhamb workshops covering 3 continents Asia, Europe and USA. Not only did he start Mallakhamb centres across the country, but he also ensured standardized training by developing a pedagogy for training and instructions in Mallakhamb. He initiated and encouraged research in the field and designed teachers training courses. He wrote extensively, about Mallakhamb in many languages. His contribution includes meticulous documentation and building a body of work to be available for posterity. This includes the international “Rule Book’ of Mallakhamb and spelling out the criteria for judging international Mallakhamb events.

4.Shri Deshpande broke glass ceilings of all kinds. He was the first to coach adults and senior citizens in Mallakhamb. He welcomed girls and women into the male-dominated sports arena and encouraged women to perform on the traditionally male bastion of the Pole Mallakhamb. He ‘reached the unreached’ by training the visually-challenged, children with special needs, orphans and tribals. He worked relentlessly for the recognition of Mallakhamb as a sport by the Government of India, the Indian Olympic Association and the Ministry of Railways, Government of India. He has mentored 15 Shiv Chhatrapati awardee Players, 3 Shiv Chhatrapati Best Coach Awardees, including one Mallakhamb Arjun award winner.

5.Shri Deshpande’s work of transforming Mallakhamb from a little-known traditional exercise to a sport that has a global presence won him over 50 National and International awards along with the Shiv Chhatrapati award as an organiser, Dadoji Kondadev Award as Best Coach and Lifetime Achievement Award by the Government of Maharashtra.

Dr. Chandrashekhar Mahadeorao Meshram (Padam Shri)

Dr Chandrashekhar M Meshram, a talented Neurologist, is a multifaceted personality with excellence in Clinical Neurology, public health awareness, academic leadership, research, education, and social activities.

2. Born on 9^th July, 1954, Dr Meshram completed MBBS from Government Medical College, Nagpur and then did MD (Medicine) and DM (Neurology) from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh. Currently he is Neurologist and Director, Brain and Mind Institute, Nagpur. He was the National delegate for the Council of Delegates meetings of  World Federation of Neurology (WFN) at Bangkok, Marrakesh, Stockholm, Vienna, Santiago, Kyoto, and Dubai. He also served as a member in Constitution and byelaws committee, and in scientific program committee of WFN. He held high position of the Trustee and President of Tropical and Geographical Neurology Specialty Group of WFN. He is the first Indian Neurologist in 65 years to serve as a Trustee of this prestigious academic organization which has 123 countries as members. He was the National President of Indian Academy of Neurology in 2013-14.

3.  Dr. Meshram is passionate about public health education and awareness programs and does it through meetings, radio-talks, television, lectures in schools and colleges and newspaper articles for many years, regarding diseases like Stroke, Epilepsy, Dementia, Parkinson’s Disease, Autism, Rabies, Headache, brain infections etc. He published 400 articles on public awareness. He is course director of educational activity WFN-IAN neuro infection webinar series. He has organized National and International conferences and conducted CME on 6 topics every year for 11 years. He initiated neurology departmental visits for students from poor Asian countries for training in India.

4.  Dr Meshram is the Assistant Editor of international journal eNeurologicalSci, and section editor of Encyclopedia of Neurosciences. He has 63 publications in Journals. He was a principal investigator for 18 international clinical research trials and based on these, two new medicines received U.S. FDA approval for treatment of Epilepsy and Parkinson’s disease. He is trustee of Baba Amte’s Maharogi Seva Samiti, Vidarbha Sahitya Sangh, and Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Smarak Samiti Deekshabhoomi, Nagpur. He gives scholarships to poor meritorious students and sponsors students for residential art camps. He is the founder President of Orange City Cultural Foundation and through it he organized six orange city international film festivals, movie appreciation workshops, two Indian film festivals and other cultural activities in Nagpur . He was Brand Ambassador of Nagpur for Swachh Bharat Abhiyan by NMC in 2018.

5.  Dr Meshram is recipient of various awards like Samman Puraskar by Income Tax Department, Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Jeevan Sadhana Puraskar by RTM Nagpur University, Inspiring neurologist of the country award, Professional Icon of  Vidarbha award, Lokmat Times outstanding contribution award for excellence in healthcare, Dr Wankar Gold Medal and Life Time Achievement Award IMA and FIAN by Indian Academy of Neurology.

Dr. Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar (Padam Shri)

Dr. Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar is a personality who has dedicated his entire life to society especially for the disabled and destitute children.

2. Born on 14 February, 1942, Dr. Papalkar started a wonderful but very difficult task of providing shelter to all such disabled people. In 1990, he received 25 acres of land in a small town called Vajjhar, 50 Km away from the town Amravati. He started the “Late Ambadaspant Orphanage for Divyang and destitute children" on this barren land. In the beginning , there were only four disabled girls in this ashram who were brought from different parts of the country and handed over to him. He accepted these four girls in the Ashram and from then onwards this amazing process of social welfare started.

3. Today, in his ashram, a total of 98 girls and 25 boys live. Dr. Papalkar not only sheltered them but also gave them their identity. Today, Aadhaar cards of 123 children of this ashram have been made on which their father’s name is written, Dr. Shankarbaba Pundlikrao Papalkar.

The upbringing that Dr. Papalkar has given to these children is in itself an example for society. While fulfilling the responsibility of all these children, he has done another amazing work. To include the marriageable boys and girls of the ashram in the mainstream of life, he used the social system to arrange marriages for them in good families. Till date, his 21 daughters and 3 sons have been married with great vigour and participation of masses. Today, 12 children who grew up in his ashram have got different government jobs. All the 123 disabled children of the ashram, are the beneficiaries of the Prime Minister's Jan Dhan Yojana.

4. This ashram, which was started on barren land in 1990, is today full of green trees with about 15,000 trees, which are looked after by Dr. Papalkar through these 123 disabled children. His work and life have become an example. He was awarded Honorary D.Litt by Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University.

5. Dr. Papalkar has established a successful model of self-help and identity for the Divyang children in the name of the “Vazzar Model” where the children take care of each other and find the way to lead a respectable and proud life. With such dedicated work towards these Divyang children, he has proved to be the epitome of social responsibility and commitment and a guiding force for generations to come.

 

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