"Excellent experience": Padma Shri awardee Kethavath Somlal expresses gratitude to Centre

Somlal, who was awarded Padma Shri in the field of Literature and Education, hails from Telangana and has translated 701 Bhagavad Gita slokas into Lambadi language.

Kethavath Somlal, a renowned Lambadi author who was conferred with Padma Shri, has expressed his gratitude to the central government. Somlal, who was awarded Padma Shri in the field of Literature and Education, hails from Telangana and has translated 701 Bhagavad Gita slokas into Lambadi language.

Recalling the moment when he was nominated for the award, Somlal said, "It was an excellent experience. I became very emotional. I was selected for the awards in literature and education. I translated 701 Bhagavad Gita slokas into Lambadi. I want to express my heartfelt gratitude to the central government." Padma Awards - one of the highest civilian awards of the country are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.

President Droupadi Murmu presented 3 Padma Vibhushan, 8 Padma Bhushan and 55 Padma Shri Awards for the year 2024 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held with grandeur in Darbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan on Monday. Vice President Jagdeep Dhankhar, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Amit Shah, many Ministers of the Union and other dignitaries were present on the occasion.

After the investiture ceremony, Shah interacted with the Padma Awardees at a dinner hosted by the Home Minister at his residence in New Delhi. The 2024 awards list, approved by the President, comprises 132 recipients, including five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri awardees. Notably, the list includes 30 women, eight individuals from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI, and nine posthumous awardees.

In the ceremony, former Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, late Sulabh International founder Bindeshwar Pathak, and illustrious Bharatanatyam dancer Padma Subrahmanyam were honoured with the esteemed Padma Vibhushan award by President Droupadi Murmu at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in the national capital. The Padma Awards announced annually on the eve of Republic Day, continue to celebrate the nation's exceptional talent and service to society.

The Padma Awardees will pay homage at the National War Memorial tomorrow morning. They will also visit Rashtrapati Bhawan and Pradhanmantri Sangrahalaya. (ANI)

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