Underdogs stunned to get Padma awards, as PM reforms nomination process

Unlike in the past years, several unsung underdogs, whose stellar contribution to the nation has gone unnoticed, have stunned everyone by bagging the coveted Padma awards this Republic Day. This is the direct result of the reforms brought in by the Narendra Modi-led NDA government at the Centre in honouring persons from different sectors. All the eight Padma Shri winners from Telangana and Andhra Pradesh this time won many a heart, although badminton player from Hyderabad Jwala Gutta voiced her discontent over being denied the honour and wondered how she should have done a better PR (public relations). However, the fact is that some of those who got the Padmas this year do not know even the meaning of PR.

Usually, the list of Padma awards which is released on 25 January evening, a day before the nation celebrates its Republic Day, raises eyebrows as it indicates the pulls and pressures by powers that be as well as intense lobbying by individuals. However, this year it was a different ball game altogeth- er, as the list contained many surprises.

None of the 25 names recommended by the Telangana government and 22 by the Andhra Pradesh government figured on the list announced by the Centre. Though both the states named Olympic medallist P.V. Sindhu for Padma Bhushan, she, too, didn’t figure on the list as she won Padma Shri only last year. There should be a gap of a minimum five years between two Padma awards. Take the case of Darpalli Ramaiah, a 67-year- old Class 6 dropout from the remote Reddipalli village in the forest belt of Khammam district in Telangana. Ramaiah won the Padma Shri for planting thousands of trees and spreading the cause of greenery. A poor farmer, Ramaiah does not know much about recognition from outside his village, leave alone the Padma Shri. Inspired by his science teacher’s teaching that trees are saviours of humanity, Ramaiah, son a poor wage labourer, took to the path of planting saplings in and around his home first, and later in his village and then to many villages in the district. He became popular as “Vanajeevi Ramaiah”. This frail looking old man today is an inspiration to thousands of students and youth in the region. Talking to The Sunday Guardian on phone from his village, Ramaiah said that he was thrilled to know that he has been awarded the Padma Shri. He said this honour to him would inspire many youngsters to plant more trees in their homes and vil-