As we celebrate International Women's day on March 8, meet the Indian sportswomen who have made the nation proud with their superlative performances in the sporting arena.
Freedom fighter and former member of Parliament Shashi Bhushan died at a hospital in Delhi on Friday. He was 88.
Nobel laureate of Indian origin Venkatraman Ramakrishnan, noted theatre personality Ebrahim Alkazi were on Wednesday conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award by President Pratibha Patil in New Delhi.
Does the fact that Olympic medallists Sushil Kumar and Vijender Kumar were overlooked raise questions about the fairness of the selection process? Do Bollywood stars like Akshay Kumar and Aishwarya Rai deserve Padma Shris, considering the foremost criterion for the award is public service? Have the awards become irrelevant?
Diplomatic and political observers in Washington said that the controversy had now moved beyond simply targeting Chatwal and a deliberate effort to embarrass Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh and his Principal Secretary T K A Nair by not just the saffron lobby but by vested interests within the Congress.
"I am deeply honoured and humbled. I am absolutely delighted to be in the company of people with extraordinary achievements," Zakaria told PTI after the Indian government nominated him for the prestigious Padma Bhushan awards. Zakaria said Prime Minister Manmohan Singh deserves enormous credit for having moved India towards the path of greater degree of comfort and strategic insight.
Noted educationist and freedom fighter Madan Mohan Malviya was on Monday posthumously conferred the Bharat Ratna, the country's highest civilian award, by President Pranab Mukherjee.
The award was conferred to Singh in recognition for his valuable contribution in a capacity as Honorary Consul General of Monaco in Delhi for last 20 years.
'Several leaders leaving the party in quick succession tell us that something is very wrong with the oldest party'
"During that time -- June, July and August of 2008 -- I was never in India. I was only here (in the US). I had no communication with the Prime Minister's Office or with anybody including the Akali Dal. It (the WikiLeaks allegation) was the biggest surprise to me," Padma Bhushan awardee Sant Chatwal said
Pachauri was admitted to Escorts Heart Institute in the national capital where he underwent open heart surgery and was put on life support on Tuesday, sources said.
Awarded the Padma Vibhushan, the Padma Bhushan and the Padma Shri, Pandit Jasraj also popularised semi-classical music like 'haveli sangeet' and reached out to devotees with his 'bhajans', a particular favourite for his fans being "Om Namo Bhagavate" in praise of Lord Krishna.
Elated for being selected for the prestigious Padma Bhushan awards by the Indian government, noted hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal on Tuesday said it was the recognition of his services in working towards strengthening of Indo-US relationship for the past several decades.
Flamboyant and controversial New York hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal, a major political contributor and fundraiser for the Clintons and several high profile Democratic politicians, is elated that he is in line to receive a Padma Bhushan in this year's Republic Day honours list, and rubbished concerns that he is undeserving of the award.
An interview with Mark Tully, former chief of bureau, BBC-Delhi about his career and more...
'Mrinal jethu gave a new perspective to Indian Cinema.'
Besides being awarded Padma bhushan in 2011, Madavoor had also received the Sangeet Nataka akademi award in 1997, Kerala Kalamandalam award among others and had performed the world over.
The Delhi high court on Monday dismissed a petition challenging the Centre's decision to confer Padma Bhushan on NRI hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal. A bench headed by acting Chief Justice Madan B Lokur, after going through the original documents placed before it by Additional Solicitor General P P Malhotra, found no substance in the allegation that proper procedure was not followed in the case of Chatwal.
Today's doodle, illustrated by Sudeepti Tucker, shows Sarabhai with her signature parasol while her students are dancing on stage.
Melody queen Lata Mangeshkar, Sitar maestro Ustad Amjad Ali Khan and music composer AR Rahman also paid tributes to the musician.
'I don't care about the BJP,' says controversial New York hotelier Sant Chatwal, who has been awarded the Padma Bhushan. 'One thousand percent, I am going to accept the award.'
Eminent journalist H K Dua and noted entrepreneur and former chairman of Hindustan Lever Limited A K Ganguly have been nominated by the government to the Rajya Sabha. Sources said on Tuesday that the names have been sent to President Pratibha Patil for her assent. Ganguly, who was conferred with the Padma Vibhushan award, the second highest civilian honour, was also a member of the Prime Minister's Council on Trade and Industry.
Political stalwarts Murli Manohar Joshi, Sharad Pawar and former Lok Sabha speaker P A Sangma, cricketer Virat Kohli and Carnatic musician K J Yesudas were among the 89 people who were selected for this year's Padma awards.
Glimpses of the CWC meeting, which was meant to formulate a plan to revive the party from the death throes of electoral irrelevance, but...
Deputy leader of the opposition in Parliament Gopinath Munde told rediff.com he would seek the help of Right to Information Act to find out who was responsible for according the Padma Bhushan Award to non resident Indian hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal.
Against the backdrop of US-based hotelier Sant Singh Chatwal getting a Padma Bhushan, the Congress on Tuesday said these awards should be given to people who enhance its prestige and not to those with a "taint".
'There is a difference between the American defined 'Development' and 'Progress' or Sarvodaya defined by Mahatma Gandhi. Agricultural land should not be used for non-agricultural purposes. A peasant who owns a piece of land and works on it to earn his living is an independent citizen. We should not make him an urban coolie'
Athletics Federation of India President and a Padma Bhushan recipient Umrao Singh died on Sunday in Jalandhar after a brief illness.
The Padma Bhushan awardee is the latest addition to a growing list of men who have been named.
President A P J Abdul Kalam presented the awards at a function at the Ashoka Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhavan.\n\n
Have you ever met the maestro or experienced his magic?
Seeking to steer clear of the furore that was triggered by Saina Nehwal's open displeasure at being ignored for the Padma awards, ace Indian shooter Gagan Narang said he would prefer to wait for the government to take a call on such matters.
Former Indian ambassador to the US Naresh Chandra, noted litterateur Raja Rao (posthumous) and scientist S E Chandy George and civil servant V Krishnamurthy were also selected for Padma Vibhushan.
Dominique Lapierre, author, Indophile and now Padma Bhushan recipient, on the continuing suffering and neglect of the survivors of the Union Carbide gas leak.
'After Ambedkar, Dr Gail was the only writer who wrote critically on caste issues.'
Industry greats like Ratan Tata, Lakshmi Mittal, Narayana Murthy and P R S Oberoi have been nominated for this years Padma Vibhushan.
U R Ananthamurthy, the Padma Bhushan and Jnanapith award winner, shared his thoughts about the changing Bengaluru and also the threat of terrorism.
A lowdown on what's going on in the Telugu film industry.
President A P J Abdul Kalam gave away the awards to 58 eminent personalities from different walks of life at a glittering ceremony held at the Ashoka Hall of Rashtrapati Bhavan.
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