Seven names from State in Padma awardees' list

Dharmadhikari of Karnataka’s Dharmasthala Temple, D Veerendra Heggade, has been named for Padma Vibhushan, the country's second-highest civilian award.

As many seven eminent personalities from the State figured in the list of this year's 104 Padma awardees, announced by the government here on the eve of Republic Day on Sunday.

The list, approved by President Pranab Mukherjee, consists of nine Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri recipients. Of them, 17 are women and another 17 are foreigners, non-resident Indians (NRIs) and persons of Indian origin (PIOs). Shivakumara Swami of Sree Siddaganga Mutt and eminent geologist K S Valdiya from Karnataka are among the Padma Bhushan awardees.

Mars Orbiter Mission project director S Arunan, Manipal Global Education chairman and former Infosys board of directors member T V Mohandas Pai, Isro scientist and Chandrayan team member S K Shivkumar, and Vasant Shastri figured in the list of Padma Shri recipients.