(Image source from: Padma Awards 2016 are out!})
India’s second highest civilian awards 2016, Padma Vibhushan, are out!
The big names announced as winners of Padma Vibhushan on the occasion of 2016 Republic Day celebrations include:
Superstar Rajinikanth
The Reliance empire founder late Dhirubhai Ambani
Media baron Ramoji Rao
Founder of Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan
Former DRDO chief V K Aatre
Cancer specialist and chairperson of Adyar Cancer Institute Dr V Shanta
Eminent Bharatnatyam and Kuchipudi dancer Yamini Krishnamurthi
Classical vocalist Girija Devi
Indian American economist Avinash Dixit
Few of the 19 eminent people chosen for Padma Bhushan 2016 include:
Noted actor Anupam Kher
Singer Udit Narayan
Former CAG Vinod Rai
Chairperson of media group Bennett, Coleman & Co. - Indu Jain
Tennis star Sania Mirza
Sports star Saina Nehwal
Spiritual leader late Swami Dayanand Saraswati
Spiritual leader Swami Tejomayananda
Former US Ambassador to India Robert Blackwill
Industrialist Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry
Maruti Suzuki chairman R C Bhargava
Eminent architect Hafeez Contractor
Padma Shri awardees include:
Senior lawyer Ujjwal Nikam (who was the prosecution counsel in the Mumbai terror attack case)
Actor Ajay Devgn
Actress Priyanka Chopra
-Sumana