VS and Dharmendra among five Padma Vibhushan awardees, Pg3

Key Highlights:

• Dharmendra Singh Deol and V S Achuthanandan were posthumously awarded the Padma Vibhushan.
• Other Padma Vibhushan recipients include K T Thomas, N Rajam, and P Narayanan.
• 45 individuals were selected for the Padma Shri award in the 'Unsung Heroes' category.
• Inderjit Singh Sidhu, Anke Gowda, Budri Thati, and Dr Armida Fernandez are among the Padma Shri awardees.

Detailed Insights:

• The Padma Vibhushan is India's second-highest civilian honor, recognizing exceptional and distinguished service.
• V S Achuthanandan served as the Chief Minister of Kerala and was a veteran leader of the CPM.
• The 'Unsung Heroes' category of the Padma Shri recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to society at the grassroots level.
• Anke Gowda's Pustakamane library houses over 20 lakh books in multiple languages, including rare manuscripts.
• Dr. Armida Fernandez established Asia's first human milk bank and has worked to improve maternal and child health.
• Dr Shyam Sundar is recognized for his work on Kala Azar, including developing the K39 rapid test.
• The awards also recognize contributions to traditional medicine, arts, and social service across different regions.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Padma Vibhushan: India's second-highest civilian award for exceptional and distinguished service.
• Padma Shri: India's fourth-highest civilian award, recognizing distinguished service in various fields.
• Kala Azar: Also known as black fever, a deadly disease prevalent in certain parts of the world.