Introduction:

Padma Awards are India’s prestigious awards that are considered the highest civilian honors of India. They are announced on the eve of 26th January on the occasion of Republic Day. Padma awards are given in three categories which are as follows; Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri. The award acknowledges achievements in all areas of activities or disciplines where public service is an important component.

Awardees are selected by the Padma Awards Committee, a committee constituted each year by the Prime Minister. The nomination process is open to the public, including self-nomination. The awards are open to all, without distinction of race, occupation, position, or sex. However, Government officials and servants are not eligible for these awards.

Below are some names of Ordinary yet extraordinary women who won Padma Shri Awards for their amazing work in different areas.

 Matha B Manjamma Jogati:

At Rashtrapati Bhavan, President Ram Nath Kovind awarded a Padma Shri award to transgender folk dancer Matha B Manjamma Jogati for her contribution to the arts. Manjunath Shetty, born in the Ballari district of Karnataka, was involved in the Jogappa rite when she was 15 years old. She became Manjamma Jogathi after this and wasn’t allowed to return home.She suffered extreme poverty and abuse over the years before finding love in folk dance.

Manjamma became the first transgender president of the Karnataka Jaanapada Academy, a government body that promotes performing arts in the state. She has also received the annual Kannada Rajyotsava award honored by Karnataka Government.

Smt. Jaswanti Ben Jamnadas Popat:

This year, the country awarded the Padma Shri Award to 91-year-old Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat. She was honored for her extraordinary work in Trade and Industry. There are few Indians who have never tasted the products of Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat, even if they do not know her name. Mahila Gruhudyog Lijjat Papad is one such product that has marked its presence in most households by its quality and taste.

A little over 80 rupees were loaned to start this papad company, which now boasts a turnover of over Rs 800 crore and employs hundreds of needy women. In Mumbai’s Girgaum area, Jaswantiben and seven of her friends took the initiative. The tale of Jaswantiben Jamnadas Popat and her Lijjat Papad is one of the inspirations for women’s empowerment in India.

Dr. Meenakshi Jain:

Meenakshi Jain is one of 118 people who received Padma Shri, India’s fourth-highest citizen award. She is known as India’s best historian currently working to uncover the truth about many important aspects of Indian history. Her works on Sati and Ayodhya are revered all over the world as foundational works.

Dr. Meenakhi Jain’s Remarkable literature work is as follows: ‘Sati: Evangelicals’, ‘Baptist Missionaries’, ‘Rama and Ayodhya’, ‘Parallel Pathways’: Essays on Hindu-Muslim and ‘the Changing Colonial Discourse’. She has also authored Medival India that is a textbook for History.

Anitha Pauldurai:

Anitha Pauldurai turned into a few of the seven sportsperson who have received India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, Padma Shri. She is an Indian basketball player and also served as captain of the Indian National team. She holds the record of playing for the Indian national team for 18 consecutive years from 2000 to 2017.

Furthermore, she served as captain of the Indian basketball team for eight years. Her work for women’s sports is remarkable. So, She was awarded Padmashri in spite of not holding any Arjun Award.

Smt. Tulsi Gowda:

Tulsi Gowda is a 72-year-old environmentalist belonging from  Honnali village Karnataka. She has planted more than 3 lakh trees, and she is involved in these activities since her childhood. Tulsi Gowda is also known as the ‘Encyclopedia of the Forest’ because of her vast knowledge of herbs and different plant species that are found around the globe.

She holds a permanent position in the Forest department so that she can contribute and make remarkable changes in environment conservation. Tulsi Gowda’s story of being an environmentalist has inspired many, her simplicity while receiving the Padma Shri award has also become a point of discussion and appreciation. 

These women awardees are recognized for their extraordinary work in their respective fields. They are now a very good example of women empowerment. We have enormous respect for their contribution to the betterment of society.

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