President gives away Padma awards

Eminent scientist RA Mashelkar was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Monday.

Eminent scientist RA Mashelkar was conferred the Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award, on Monday.

Actor Kamal Haasan, Prof Susanne H Rudolph and Prof Llyod I Rudolph, both distinguished professors of political science from the University of Chicago, former CAG VN Kaul, badminton coach Pullela Gopichand and neonatologist Neelam Kler were among the 12 who were awarded the Padma Bhushan.

Actor Vidya Balan, coach of Indian women kabaddi team Sunil Dabas, sand artist Sudarshan Pattnaik and activist Jawahar Lal Kaul were among the 53 personalities conferred the Padma Shri award at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhawan’s Durbar Hall.

The ceremony was attended by Vice President Hamid Ansari, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, his wife Gursharan Kaur, Union ministers Sushilkumar Shinde, P Chidambaram, Sharad Pawar and Sriprakash Jaiswal, and Chief Election Commissioner VS Sampath.

Mashelkar (71) is well known for his path breaking research in polymer science and engineering. Anumolu Ramakrishna, who pioneered the use of precast concrete technology, was conferred the Padma Bhushan posthumously. Kaul (69), known for his voluntary services for the blind, had lost his eyesight due to smallpox at the age of five.