Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar, External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee, filmmaker M Night Shyamalan, singer Asha Bhonsle and Infosys head N R Narayana Murthy were among recipients of the prestigious Padma awards given away by President Pratibha Patil at Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. The Bharat Ratna, however, was given a miss by the Government for the seventh year in a row. An overwhelmed Tendulkar, who got the loudest round of applause from the audience, said the

Government’s recognition of his work made the award special. “I’m very happy, it’s difficult to explain in words. In 18 years, I have received several awards but this one is close to my heart. I’m happy that the Government has acknowledged my contribution,” Tendulkar said after receiving the award. Mukherjee who was awarded the Padma Vibhushan became the first serving minister to be conferred a Padma award. Among the awardees were Swimmer Bula Chowdhury Chakraborty who received the Padma Shri. Hotelier P R S Oberoi was also conferred the Padma Vibhushan. Shyamalan was conferred the Padma Sri and said the Indian Government’s gesture was a very humbling experience for him and had given him an opportunity to foster his relationship with Indian audiences. Author Dominique Lapierre, Delhi-based teacher Shyama Chona and classical musician Ustad Rahim Fahimuddin Khan Dagar received the Padma Bhushan while FICCI secretary general Amit Mitra and journalists Vinod Dua and Rajdeep Sardesai were presented with the Padma Shri. Molecular biologist Asis Dutta, former Ambassador Chandrashekhar Dasgupta, social activist Devendra Raj Mehta and renowned neurophysician Jagjit Singh Chopra were some of the other recipients of the Padma Bhushan.

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