Kuwaiti yoga practitioner among 30 unsung heroes to be honoured with Padma Shri; PM Modi congratulates

Shaikha AJ Al Sabah, a 48-year-old yoga practitioner from Kuwait, is among the recipients.

She founded Daratma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio, and was honoured for her efforts to promote yoga in the Gulf region using traditional techniques.

Shaikha also spearheaded the 2021 fundraiser, Yomnak lil Yaman, supporting Yemeni refugees and internally displaced people.

Travel journalist duo Hugh and Colleen Gantzer from Uttarakhand were also recognised for their over five decades of contributions to Indian travel journalism.

Together, they authored over 30 books on Indian tourism, raising awareness about preserving local communities and cultural heritage.

Colleen, who passed away in November 2024, will receive the award posthumously.

Libia Lobo Sardesai, a prominent figure in Goa’s freedom movement, was honoured for co-founding the underground radio station Voz da Liberdade (Voice of Freedom) in 1955, which mobilised people against Portuguese rule.

Harvinder Singh, a para-archer from Haryana, received the Padma Shri for his historic achievement as the first Indian to win a gold medal at the 2024 Paralympic Games.

Other recipients include Nagaland fruit farmer L Hangthing, Puducherry instrumentalist P Datchanamoorthy, Madhya Pradesh social entrepreneur Sally Holkar, and Marathi author Maruti Bhujangrao Chitampalli.

Vilas Dangre, Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar, Hariman Sharma, Jumde Yomgam Gamlin, Naren Gurung, Jagdish Joshila, Batool Begum, Pandi Ram Mandavi, and Nirmala Devi are among the other unsung heroes receiving the prestigious award this year.

Announced annually on the eve of Republic Day, the Padma Awards celebrate achievements in disciplines such as public affairs, science, engineering, social work, literature, medicine, sports, and civil services.