JOIN USPresident Pranab Mukherjee presented Padma awards to 56 eminent personalities at the Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan.
Kokilaben Ambani received the Padma Vibhushan given to her late husband and founder of Reliance Industries Limited, Dhirubhai Ambani, posthumously in attendance of close family members, including two sons—RIL chief Mukesh Ambani and Reliance ADA Chairman Anil Ambani.
She issued a statement later thanking the president and prime minister for the “unparalleled” recognition to her husband. “Dhirubhai lived a life of simplicity and humility, creating world-class assets for the nation, and great wealth for the country and his fellow countrymen, on a scale never witnessed before.”
Apart from Ambani, US-based economist Avinash Kamalakar Dixit, former Jammu and Kashmir Governor Jagmohan, classical dance exponent Yamini Krishnamurthy and Art of Living founder Sri Sri Ravi Shankar were awarded with the Padma Vibhushan.
Those who were honoured with Padma Bhushan include renowned architect Hafeez Sorab Contractor, Editor-in-Chief of Ajit group of newspapers Barjinder Singh Hamdard, actor Anupam Kher, construction tycoon and chairman of Shapoorji Pallonji group Pallonji Shapoorji Mistry, badminton sensation Saina Nehwal, former Comptroller and Auditor General of India Vinod Rai, renowned scientist Alla Venkata Rama Rao and chairman of Asian Institute of Gastroenterology, Hyderabad, Duvvur Nageshwar Reddy.
The 43 Padma Shri awardees include actor Ajay Devgn, filmmaker Madhur R Bhandarkar, scientist Dr Mylswamy Annadurai, Athlete Deepika Kumari and celebrated chef Mohammed Imtiaz Qureshi.
The rest of the awardees, including actor Rajinikanth, Priyanka Chopra and tennis star Sania Mirza, will be given the honour at a separate function to be held next month.
These awards were announced on the eve of the Republic Day this year.