Five Gujaratis Bring Pride to the State with Padma Shri Honours

Ahmedabad | Gujarat — On the eve of India’s 77th Republic Day, Gujarat emerged prominently on the national honours map as five distinguished personalities from the state were selected for the Padma Shri Award, one of the country’s highest civilian honours. Recognised for their exceptional contributions across social service, folk art, literature, music and theatre, the awardees represent the rich cultural and humanitarian spirit of Gujarat.

Among the honourees is Nilesh Vinodchandra Mandlewala of Surat, a name synonymous with organ donation awareness in Gujarat. Awarded the Padma Shri for social work, Mandlewala is the founder of Donate Life Sanstha and is widely regarded as the pioneer of organised organ donation activities in the state. His journey began with personal tragedy when his father suffered kidney failure and later passed away in 2011. “Watching patients and families struggle during dialysis changed my life forever,” Mandlewala has often said.

Working almost single-handedly since 2005, he formalised his mission by founding Donate Life in 2014. Since then, the initiative has facilitated the donation of 1,366 organs and tissues till January 22, 2026, giving a new lease of life to 1,258 patients across India and abroad. Even during the Covid-19 pandemic, when donation rates dipped nationwide, Surat alone contributed 203 organs under his guidance. His efforts have previously earned him the Gujarat Garima Award in 2022.

Another moment of pride came for Junagadh with the selection of Haji Kasam Mir, fondly known as Haji Ramkadu, for his lifelong contribution to folk music. The 80-year-old dholak maestro, who has performed for over six decades, became emotional upon hearing the announcement. “My lifelong dream has been fulfilled today. I am grateful that I received this honour while I am alive,” he said, thanking Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

Haji Ramkadu has performed in over 20,000 programmes, many of them for gaushalas, without accepting a single rupee. Having taken Gujarati folk music to countries like the UK, US, Canada and France, he has worked with legends such as Pranlal Vyas, Diwaliben Bhil and Hemubhai Gadhvi. Junagadh MLA Sanjay Kordia called the honour “a matter of pride not just for Junagadh, but for all of Gujarat”.

Preserving a 350-year-old storytelling tradition, Vadodara’s Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya, known as Manbhatt, has been awarded the Padma Shri in music. Expressing his joy, Pandya said, “This honour is not mine alone. It belongs to Gujarati literature and the great poets like Narsinh Mehta and Premanand.” Despite early struggles, he carried forward the Man-Akhyan tradition after his father’s demise and now sees his sons continuing the legacy. “I am happy that even today a large section of society respects this ancient art,” he remarked.

In literature, renowned humorist and essayist Ratilal Borisagar has been honoured for his immense contribution to Gujarati writing. Known for his clean, gentle humour, Borisagar’s works like Marak Marak, Anandalok and the autobiographical Angiography earned him widespread acclaim and multiple literary awards. His writing transformed everyday experiences into thoughtful satire without bitterness, securing him a unique place in modern Gujarati literature.

Completing the list is veteran actor Arvind Vaidya, celebrated for his iconic role as ‘Bapuji’ in the television serial Anupama. Selected for his contribution to art, the 84-year-old theatre stalwart has repeatedly expressed his passion for drama. “I don’t want positions or money. I only want to keep working in theatre,” he once said, underlining his lifelong dedication to the performing arts.