Clockwise from top: Sulagatti Narasamma, Sudhanshu Biswas, Lakshmikutty and Yeshi Dhoden are among the Padma Shri awardees. Photos: @PIBHomeAffairs/Twitter

Padma awards for tribals, farm labourer

New Delhi, January 25

Keeping its promise of honouring “unsung heroes”, the government on Thursday announced Padma Shri awards for personalities who served the poor, set up free schools and popularised tribal arts globally.Lakshmikutty, a tribal woman from Kerala, who prepares 500 herbal medicine from memory and help thousands of people especially in snake and insect bite cases, is among the awardees.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)She teaches at Kerala Folklore Academy and lives in a small hut made of palm leaves roof in tribal settlement in a forest. She is the only tribal woman from her area to attend school in the 1950s.Arvind Gupta, an IIT Kanpur alumnus who inspired generations of students to learn science from thrash, has also been honoured with Padma Shri.Gupta visited 3,000 schools in four decades, made 6,200 short films on toy-making in 18 languages and also hosted popular TV show Tarang in 1980s.Internationally-acclaimed Gond artist Bhajju Shyam has also been awarded the Padma Shri.Shyam is famous for depicting Europe through Gond paintings, a tribal style of painting of Madhya Pradesh. Born in a poor tribal family, he worked as a night guard and electrician to support family before becoming a professional artist.His ‘The London Jungle Book’ sold 30,000 copies and it was published in five foreign languages.West Bengal’s Sudhanshu Biswas, a 99-year-old freedom fighter who serves poor, runs school and orphanages and set up free school for poor, is also among the winners.Kerala’s medical messiah to terminally ill, M R Rajagopal, has also been honoured with Padma Shri.Rajagopal has specialised in pain relief care for neo natal cases.Since last year, the Modi government has been honouring “unsung heroes” with the Padma awards to recognise people who have dedicated their lives to working for the poor or have risen from deprived backgrounds to excel in their own fields.Maharashtra’s Murlikant Petkar, India’s first para-Olympic gold medallist, who lost his arm in 1965 Indo-Pak war, is another winner of the Padma Shri.Tamil Nadu’s Rajagopalan Vasudevan, who is known as plastic road-maker of India, developed a patented and innovative method to reuse plastic waste to construct roads, has also been given the Padma Shri.Subhasini Mistry, a poor lady from rural West Bengal, who toiled 20 years as housemaid and daily labourer to build a hospital for poor in the state, is another awardee.Nonagenarian farm labourer Sulagatti Narasamma, who provides midwifery services in backward region of Karnataka without any medical facility, too was awarded the Padma Shri.Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan, an acclaimed Tamil folk exponent, who has dedicated her life towards collection, documentation and preservation of Tamil folk and tribal music, has also been given Padma Shri.Another awardee is Yeshi Dhoden, monk physician of Tibetan herbal medicine working in remote areas of Himachal Pradesh.Lentina Ao Thakkar, a Gandhian who has served for decades at a Gandhi Ashram in Nagaland; Romulus Whaitaker, a wildlife conservationist working in Andaman Nicobar Islands and Tamil Nadu; have also been named for the Padma Shri awards.Rani and Abhya Bang, both doctors, who over 30 years transformed health care in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli in Maharashtra, will get the Padma Shri.Maharashtra’s Sampat Ramteke, a sickle-cell torchbearer, and Nepal’s Sanduk Ruit, an ophthalmologist who exports low cost cataract surgery lenses to 30 countries, have been honoured with Padma Shri.Lucknow’s Urdu poet Anwar Jalalpuri, who translated over 700 Shlokas of Bhagwad Gita from Sanskrit to Urdu, will also be given the Padma Shri.Karnataka’s Ibrahim Sutar, a singer and icon of Hindu-Muslim unity; Bihar’s Manas Bihari Verma, a former programme director of Tejas, India’s first indigenous multi-role supersonic fighter aircraft; are the other names selected for the Padma Shri.Sitavva Joddati, who champions women development and empowerment, especially ‘Devadasis’ and Dalits; Nouf Marwaai, the first yoga instructor of Saudi Arabia who played an instrumental role in legalising yoga in that country, will be given the Padma Shri.98-year-old V Nanammal, India’s oldest yoga teacher, who still practices and teaches 100 students daily in Tamil Nadu, has been honoured with the Padma Shri. — PTI 

Padma Shri list of ‘unsung heroes’

Keeping its promise of honouring “unsung heroes”, the government has announced Padma Shri for those who served poor, set up free schools and popularised tribal arts

MR Rajagopal‘Father of palliative care’, has defended right of patients to live, die with dignity

New Delhi, January 25

Keeping its promise of honouring “unsung heroes”, the government today announced Padma Shri awards for personalities who served the poor, set up free schools and popularised tribal arts globally.Lakshmikutty, a tribal woman from Kerala, who prepares 500 herbal medicines from memory and help thousands of people especially in snake and insect bite cases, is among the awardees.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)Arvind Gupta, an IIT Kanpur alumnus who inspired generations of students to learn science from thrash, has also been honoured. He has made 6,200 short films on toy-making in 18 languages and also hosted popular TV show Tarang in 1980s. Gond artist Bhajju Shyam has also been awarded the Padma Shri. Shyam is famous for depicting Europe through Gond paintings, a tribal style of painting of Madhya Pradesh. His ‘The London Jungle Book’ sold 30,000 copies and it was published in five foreign languages.West Bengal’s Sudhanshu Biswas, a  freedom fighter who serves poor, runs school and orphanages and set up free school for poor, is also among the winners. Kerala’s medical messiah to terminally ill, MR Rajagopal, has also been honoured with Padma Shri. Rajagopal has specialised in pain relief care for neo natal cases. Maharashtra’s Murlikant Petkar, India’s first Paralympics gold medalist who lost his arm in 1965 Indo-Pak war, is another winner of Padma Shri.Subhasini Mistry, from rural West Bengal who toiled 20 years as housemaid and daily labourer to build a hospital for poor, is another awardee. Nonagenarian farm labourer Sulagatti Narasamma, who provides midwifery services in the backward region of Karnataka, too was awarded Padma Shri. Another awardee is Yeshi Dhoden, monk physician of Tibetan herbal medicine working in remote areas of Himachal. — PTI 

Of the 35 CRPF personnel awarded, 27 have been given the honour for operations in the Kashmir Valley. — Representationl photo

New Delhi, January 24

Anti-militancy operations in Jammu and Kashmir have got the state police and the CRPF the lion’s share of 65 out of 107 gallantry medals announced on Wednesday, ahead of Republic Day.As many as 38 J-K Police personnel have been named as awardees of the Police Medal for Gallantry (PMG), followed by 35 personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force, out of which 27 have been given the honour for operations in the Kashmir Valley.The rest of the bravery medals won by the CRPF are for operations in the anti-Naxal theatre of Jharkhand.Out of the 107 total gallantry medals announced, seven have been given posthumously.Police forces of Chhattisgarh (10), Maharashtra (7), Telangana (6) and Delhi Police (3) are among others who have been named as awardees of the PMG this time.The PMG is the second highest police bravery medal followed by the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry (PPMG).There were no awardees for the PPMG this time.In all, the Union home ministry today declared that a total of 795 police personnel have been named as awardees of various types of medals.This includes president’s police medal for distinguished service to 75 personnel and police medal for meritorious service to 613 cops.”This year five officers from the Indian Police Service (IPS) will receive the police medal for gallantry,” the home ministry said in a statement.”Tighter norms have been used to select awardees for the president’s police medal for distinguished service and police medal for meritorious service this year,” it said.In a departure from tradition, the maximum number of such medals were awarded to the lowest ranks of policemen — Constables and Havildars — at 382, followed by 183 to the Assistant Sub-Inspectors, Sub-Inspectors and Inspector ranks, 116 to Deputy Superintendents of Police (DSP) and Assistant Commandant ranks and only 10 of these went to the senior ranks of Deputy Inspector General (DIG) and IG.”The home ministry has made it a point to ensure that the lower ranks of the police forces get due recognition. The least medals went to the higher ranks this year. It is bottom heavy this time,” a senior official said.Security forces, that includes the J-K Police and its Special Operations Group (SOG), the CRPF and the Army have been undertaking anti-militancy operations in the Kashmir Valley as part of concerted efforts against terrorist activities, especially after the killing of Burhan Wani in July, 2016.Over 200 militants have been killed in these operations during the last year alone in the Valley — the highest in the last seven years. — PT

Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti at a passing-out parade ceremony in Baramulla. Tribune photo

Majid Jahangir

Tribune News Service

Sheeri (Baramulla), January 21

Amid the escalating tension along the borders, Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti today appealed to both India and Pakistan not to make Jammu and Kashmir a “theatre of war” but a “bridge of friendship” between the two warring neighbours.Mehbooba said the shelling on borders in J&K was happening at a time when the whole country was witnessing development and progress.“Our borders are witnessing ‘khoon ki Holi’ (bloodbath). When the whole country is witnessing development – new hospitals and schools are coming up —- we are witnessing the opposite of it. People are seeking bunkers on borders and they are shifting out of their villages. Our schools are shut and children are trapped inside their homes. I once again appeal to our Prime Minister and our neighbour Pakistan to not allow J&K become ‘jung ka akhada’ (theatre of war), instead make it a bridge of friendship,” Mehbooba said at the passing out parade for police constables at the Subsidiary Training Centre in Sheeri along the Srinagar-Muzaffarabad road. “It is our misfortune that our state has become a basis of dispute between our country India and Pakistan,” Mehbooba lamented. Since Thursday nearly a dozen persons – including Army and BSF men – have been killed and several have got injured in the Pakistani shelling in the Jammu region. Chief Minister said people of J&K from both sides were getting killed in these border skirmishes. “For the last few days, our borders are witnessing firing in which several of our people, including civilians, children, have got martyred. The same situation will be on the other side (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir). It is the people of J&K who are getting killed on both sides,” she said. Mehbooba told the new recruits that the J&K Police had the toughest job among all forces in the country.“The police have many challenges at every step. Your challenge is not just to maintain law and order or uphold the rule of law, but you have to face your own people sometimes while maintaining law and order, small children and that time you will have to exercise restraint,” the Chief Minister said. Mehbooba said there was no let-up in the infiltration and youth were taking up arms. “It (youth joining militancy)) is a huge challenge. Our endeavour should be to bring back our youth to their homes by any means. You should especially keep this thing in mind that while fighting militancy civilian killings should not take place,” she said. She advised the new recruits to give special attention to drug addiction and crime against women cases. “Atrocities are being done on women… a minor girl was assaulted in Kuthua. We had to suspend the SHO there because, perhaps, there was some negligence. We have constituted a team to inquire into the incident. So, you have to give special attention to the crimes against our sisters and daughters and provide justice,” she said.

IMA Commandant Lt Gen SK Jha presents awards to medal winners in Dehradun on Thursday. Tribune photo

Jotirmay Thapliyal

Tribune News Service

Dehradun, December 7

Commandant of the Indian Military Academy Lt Gen SK Jha today said the Bangladesh army chief’s visit to the academy would improve the relations between both countries.Chief of the Bangladesh army General Abu Belal Muhammad Shafiul Huq will review the passing-out parade to be held at the IMA on Saturday. He will be accompanied by his wife Shoma Huq.Lt Gen Jha asserted that Bangladesh was India’s close neighbour and the two countries share a 4,900-km boundary. “Both nations have great diplomatic ties and conducted joint military exercises in the recent past,” he said.He pointed out that the IMA had invited heads of the SAARC nations as reviewing officers for its passing-out parades in the past.“The army chiefs of Afghanistan and Nepal have reviewed the parade in the past and it is a matter of great honour that Bangladesh army chief will be at the IMA to review the parade this time,” Lt Gen Jha said.Referring to the training at the academy, he said stress was being laid on turning Gentlemen Cadets from scholastic warriors to techno warriors without compromising on physical aspect of the training.On proposed underpass along the Chakrata road, which divides two campuses of the IMA, the Commandant said the proposal was in the final stage. He asserted that an underpass would help in strengthening security arrangements at the IMA.

Hafiz Saeed

New Delhi, November 25

Stepping up the heat on Pakistan, the US today sought immediate re-arrest and prosecution of LeT founder Hafiz Saeed and threatened of an adverse impact on ties if Islamabad failed to act against the mastermind of the 26/11 Mumbai massacre.After Saeed’s release from house arrest yesterday, the US State Department had asked Pakistan to re-arrest and try him for heinous crimes. The White House, in its latest statement, said there was a “clear international consensus regarding Saeed’s culpability” in the 2008 Mumbai attacks that left 166 persons, including six American nationals, dead.(Follow The Tribune on Facebook; and Twitter @thetribunechd)“Saeed’s release sends a troubling message about Pakistan’s commitment to combating terrorism… If Pakistan does not detain Saeed and charge him, its inaction will have repercussions for bilateral ties and for Pakistan’s global reputation,” it said. Pakistan, meanwhile, has justified the release. — TNS

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman waves from the cockpit of IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI plane before taking off for a sortie, in Jodhpur on Wednesday. PTI

IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI plane, carrying Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, takes off for a sortie, in Jodhpur on Wednesday. PTI

Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman boards IAF’s Sukhoi-30 MKI plane for a sortie, in Jodhpur on Wednesday. PTI

Our Correspondent

Jaipur, January 17

After her recent visit to INS Vikramaditya, the aircraft carrier of the Indian Navy, Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman on Wednesday flew in the formidable Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft of 31 Squadron on her visit to Air Force Station Jodhpur. In her 45 minutes of sortie, she was demonstrated some of the unique characteristics and strengths of this mighty twin engine Air Superiority Fighter (ASF). She is the first woman defence minister of India to fly a sortie in an IAF Sukhoi-30 MKI fighter aircraft, according a Defence Ministry PRO Lieutenant Colonel Manish Ojha here.       To gauge the operational capability and preparedness of the defence forces, the minister has been visiting various establishments of the armed forces.These visits go a long way in enhancing the motivation of the defence personnel as they get an opportunity to personally interact with the defence minister herself, Ojha said.       After her sortie on the multi-role ASF, she addressed and interacted with the air warriors of the Air Force Station, Jodhpur, and congratulated them on their professionalism, high state of morale and motivation.During the visit, she was also briefed on employment of air power in the defence of our country.Owing to its versatile capabilities, Sukhoi-30 MKI forms an integral and the most potent component of our nation’s air power. 

President Ram Nath Kovind inspecting the Guard of Honour on his arrival at Raj Bhavan helipad in Itanagar, Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. PTI

Beijing, November 20

China on Monday strongly objected to President Ram Nath Kovind’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, saying India should refrain from “complicating” the border dispute when bilateral relations are at a “crucial moment”.President Kovind visited Arunachal Pradesh yesterday.“The Chinese government never acknowledged the so-called Arunachal Pradesh and our position on the border issue is consistent and clear,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang told the media when asked about Kovind’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, which China claims as Southern Tibet.China routinely objects to any senior Indian officials’ visit to the area.India has dismissed Beijing’s objections, maintaining that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of the country and Indian leaders are as much free to visit the state as they are to any other part of the country.Both countries are “in the process of settling this issue through negotiation and consultation and seek to reach to a fair and reasonable solution acceptable to all”, Lu said.Pending final settlement all parties should work for peace and tranquillity, he said.“China firmly opposes the Indian leader’s relevant activities in the relevant region when China-India relations are at a crucial moment,” he said.“We hope India could work in the same direction and maintain general picture of bilateral ties and refrain from complicating border issue and work to create favourable conditions for border negotiations and for the sound and stable development of bilateral ties,” he said.The Line of Actual Control (LAC) between India and China stretches to 3,488 kms.On November 6, China had raised objection to Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman’s visit to the border areas of Arunachal Pradesh.Both sides held 19 rounds of talks by the special representatives to resolve the boundary dispute.The 20th round is expected to be held next month in New Delhi, though dates have not yet been announced.National Security Advisor Ajit Doval and his Chinese counterpart Yang Jiechi are the designated special representatives for the boundary talks. — PTI

Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd), chief adviser to the CM, hands over a cheque to the wife of martyr Jagsir Singh during his ‘bhog’ at Lohgarh Thakkran Wala village in Zira subdivision on Tuesday. Tribune photo

Our Correspondent

Ferozepur, January 9

The state government today promised assistance to the tune of Rs 90 lakh to the family of Sepoy Jagsir Singh (32) of 19 Punjab Regiment, besides a government job to his wife and free education for his three children. Jagsir was killed in firing by Pakistani troops in Naushera sector (J&K) on December 31.The announcement was made by Lt Gen TS Shergill (retd), chief adviser to the CM, during “antim ardas” of the martyr at Jagsir’s village, Lohgarh Thakkran Wala, in Zira subdivision. The bhog was attended by local MP Sher Singh Ghubaya, MLA Bibi Satkar Kaur, Deputy Commissioner Ramvir, SSP Bhupinder Singh and officials of the Army and the BSF.The chief adviser, along with the DC, presented a cheque for Rs 5 lakh as ex gratia grant to the family.Jagsir is survived by parents Amarjit Singh and Gurmit Kaur, wife Mohinder Pal Kaur, daughters Nigamjit Kaur (5) and Gurneet Kaur (3) and son Jagdish Singh (2).

Kalvari is being built by a Defence Ministry-owned firm in collaboration with France’s Naval Group. PTI file

Ajay Banerjee

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, November 20

Eighteen years after an action plan was announced for having 24 modern submarines by 2030, the first indigenous conventionally powered submarine is set to be commissioned in mid-December.The submarine, named ‘Kalvari’ (meaning deep sea tiger shark), will be the first diesel-electric version to be commissioned under the action plan announced in 1999 following a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Security.India has since taken on lease a nuclear submarine from Russia and named it INS Chakra and commissioned one nuclear powered submarine of its own and named it INS Arihant.The Kalvari is the first of the six scorpene-class diesel-electric submarines being built by Mazagon Docks Limited, a Ministry of Defence-owned company, in collaboration with France’s Naval Group (earlier known as DCNS). In security circles, a diesel–electric sub is referred to as “conventionally powered”. The last time a diesel-electric submarine was commissioned into the Navy was in July 2000.The submarine would be equipped with anti-ship missiles and long-range guided torpedoes along with a modern sensor suite.For Naval planners, the worrisome part, however, is that China’s submarine fleet—nuclear and conventionally powered—is four times that of India’s.The Indian battle-ready under-sea fleet of diesel electric vessels is at present down to 14: nine Kilo-class (EKMs), four German-designed HDWs (SSKs) and one Akula class nuclear-powered submarine (SSN) on a 10-year lease from Russia (since 2012).The Navy plans to have 22 submarines by 2021-22 and is looking at building more of these under the newly announced strategic partnership, which allows foreign companies to partner with Indian firms under the “Make in India” initiative. Making submarines here is one of the four targeted sectors, the other three being fighter jets, helicopters and tanks.In comparison, China is rapidly expanding its submarine fleet. The US Department of Defence, in its annual report to the US Congress, has spelt out the rise of China’s submarine fleet.The report, “Military and security developments involving the People’s Republic of China 2017”, says: “The People’s Liberation Army Navy places a high priority on the modernisation of its submarine force and presently possesses 63 vessels. By 2020, this force will likely grow to between 69 and 78 submarines.”