Prominent citizens from each of the 10 Asean members are among the 16 foreigners who will be awarded the prestigious Padma Shri awards this year on January 26. Heads of states and governments of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) members are currently visiting India for the Indo-Asean summit and will attend the Republic Day functions.
Also, noted music composer Illaiyaraja, Hindutava thinker Parameswaran Parameswaran and former Team India captain MS Dhoni are among the 85 people chosen for the prestigious awards in 2018.
Among the awardees, 16 are from the category of foreigners, non-resident Indians and three people will be getting the award posthumously.
Noted Hindustani classical singer Ghulam Mustafa Khan was honoured with the Padma Vibhushan. Cueist Pankaj Advani, former Russian Ambassador to India late Alexander Kadakin, Hindustani classical musician Arvind Parikh, Tamil Nadu-based archaeologist Ramachandran Nagaswamy and Goan artist Laxman Pai were among nine prominent personalities who were honoured with the Padma Bhushan.