Renowned Pattachitra artist Binod Kumar Maharana, hailing from Odisha, has been honored with the prestigious Padma Shri award in the field of art. In an interaction with the sources, Binod expressed his joy and gratitude for being bestowed with this recognition. He remarked, “I am very happy that I am getting this award and I want to thank the Government of India for considering deserving people. We did good work and never thought of getting this award.” His sentiments reflect appreciation for the acknowledgment of his artistic contributions.
Binod further emphasized the significance of this recognition, stating, “This is security for the artist from society and government; we are happy to see our survivors, and we too are excited to work.” This acknowledgment not only brings joy but also serves as a form of assurance for artists like him, ensuring support and recognition from both society and the government.
Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw took to social media on Friday to extend his congratulations to Binod and other awardees. He wrote, “Honour and recognition to Odisha’s rich cultural heritage: Congratulations to Shri Gopinath Swain, Shri Bhagbat Pradhan, Shri Binod Maharana, and Shri Binod Kumar Pasayat on being selected for the prestigious Padma Shri Award for their life-long service to the preservation and promotion of folk art and tradition.” This acknowledgment underscores the awardees’ dedication to the preservation and promotion of the cultural heritage of Odisha through their contributions to folk art and tradition.
Honour and recognition to Odisha’s rich cultural heritage: Congratulations to Shri Gopinath Swain, Shri Bhagbat Padhan, Shri Binod Maharana, and Shri Binod Kumar Pasayat on being selected for the prestigious Padma Shri Award for their life-long service to the preservation and… pic.twitter.com/UJUu2AuJxA
— Ashwini Vaishnaw (@AshwiniVaishnaw) January 26, 2024
On Thursday, the Home Ministry disclosed the recipients of the Padma awards, which encompassed five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri accolades. These Padma Awards, recognized as the highest civilian honors in India, are presented in three categories: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, and Padma Shri.
The awards span various disciplines and fields, including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, and civil service. This year’s list comprises 132 individuals, featuring two duo cases where the award is counted as one. The distribution encompasses five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri Awards.
Thirty of the awardees are women, and the list encompasses eight individuals from categories such as foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), along with nine posthumous awardees.
Instituted in 1954, the Padma Awards stand as one of India’s most esteemed civilian honors and are revealed annually on the eve of Republic Day. The awards, categorized as Padma Vibhushan (exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service), aim to recognize accomplishments in various fields where public service plays a pivotal role.
The Padma Awards Committee, formed by the Prime Minister each year, recommends awardees. Headed by the Cabinet Secretary and including the Home Secretary, the Secretary to the President, and four to six eminent individuals as members, the committee’s recommendations undergo approval from the Prime Minister and the President of India.
In the previous year, the government announced 106 Padma Awards, featuring six Padma Vibhushans, nine Padma Bhushans, and 91 Padma Shri Awards. Nineteen of the awardees were women, and the list included individuals from the category of foreigners (NRI, PIO, OCI), along with seven posthumous awardees.