First woman press photographer among awardees

Gujarat-based Homai Vyarawalla will receive the Padma Vibhushan, the nation’s second highest civilian award, in art and photography category.

Vyarawalla started her press photography career in 1938, for over a period of 35 years till 1973. She has captured World War II, India’s Freedom Struggle leading up to Independence and subsequently the hectic events during the time of prime ministers Jawaharlal Nehru and Indira Gandhi.

The women named for the Padma Bhushan include: Arpita Singh (painting), Rajashree Birla (social work) and Shobhana Ranade (social work).

The other women who were conferred with the Padma Shri are: Neelam Mansingh (theatre), Mahasundari Devi (painting), K K Pavithran (dance - Mohiniattam), Nomita Chandy (social work), Sheela Patel (social work), Anita Reddy (social work), Suman Sahai (science and engineering), Shital Mahajan (sports-adventure/para jumping), N Kunjarani Devi (sports-weightlifting), Indira Hinduja (medicine-obstetrics and gynaecology), Rajni Kumar (literature and education), Buangi Sailo (literature and education), Mamang Dai (literature and education), Shanti Teresa Lakra (nursing), Gulshan Nanda (handicrafts promotion) and Martha Chen (social work).