Five from Assam, Several from Northeast Feature Among Padma Awardees

Guwahati: Ahead of the 77th Republic Day celebrations, the Centre has announced this year’s Padma Awards, honouring 113 individuals whose work has quietly but significantly shaped communities across the country. Among them are five distinguished personalities from Assam, alongside several others from the Northeast, reflecting growing national recognition of grassroots contributions from the region.

From Assam, the Padma Shri has been conferred upon Sattriya dance exponent Haricharan Saikia, acclaimed sculptor Nuruddin Ahmed, silk conservationist and expert Jogesh Deuri, Karbi folk music exponent Pokila Lektepi, and former Union Minister and senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader Kabindra Purkayastha, who has been honoured posthumously.

Their selection highlights sustained dedication across diverse fields such as classical and folk arts, traditional crafts, cultural preservation, and public service—much of it carried out away from the public spotlight.

The Northeast’s presence extends beyond Assam. Sangyusang S. Pongener of Nagaland, Techi Gubin from Arunachal Pradesh, Yumnam Jatra Singh of Manipur, Naresh Chandra Dev Varma from Tripura, and Hally War of Meghalaya have also been named Padma Shri awardees this year. Their recognition underscores the impact of community-led initiatives and region-specific social work that have gradually gained national visibility.

According to official accounts, this year’s Padma honours place special emphasis on individuals who have acted as agents of social change—those who have worked consistently to improve lives without seeking acclaim or personal reward.

The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honours, are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan for exceptional and distinguished service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of a higher order, and Padma Shri for distinguished service in various fields, particularly public service and social impact.

Earlier in the day, the government also announced gallantry and service medals for nearly 1,000 personnel from police, fire services, home guards, and civil defence across the country, reinforcing a broader emphasis on recognising courage, commitment, and service to the nation.

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