In a glittering ceremony at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan on May 25, the President conferred Padma Awards for 2026 on personalities chosen for excellence in their respective fields. Vice President C.P. Radhakrishnan, PM Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, other Cabinet ministers, and VVIPs were in attendance.
For 2026, the President approved 131 Padma awards, including Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri awards. They are announced every year on Republic Day.
President Droupadi Murmu presented Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri Awards for the year 2026 at the Civil Investiture Ceremony-I held at Rashtrapati Bhavan pic.twitter.com/NO5QL7AwT4
— President of India (@rashtrapatibhvn) May 25, 2026
Among them, from Tamil Nadu, nonagenarian veteran politician and former Health Minister Dr H.V. Hande (Medicine), N. Swaminathan (Art), R. Sreedhar (Others – Radio Broadcasting), Tamil writer Sivasankari (Literature and Education), former CRPF Director General and retired IPS officer K. Vijay Kumar (Civil Service), traditional martial art exponent and Silambam master K. Pajanivel — Silambam being an ancient martial art originating from Tamil Nadu — and family members of R. Krishnan (Art, posthumous) were conferred Padma Shri awards.
The President also conferred the Padma Vibhushan award on renowned violinist N. Rajam, while gastroenterologist Kallipatti Ramaswamy K.R. Palaniswamy and S.K.M. Maeilanandhan (Social Work) received the Padma Bhushan awards.
Others chosen for the award included tennis personality Vijay Amritraj (USA), who has roots in Tamil Nadu.
Profile
Violinist Rajam: Renowned Indian classical violinist celebrated for popularising the “singing violin” technique and training generations of musicians. She pioneered a revolutionary approach to classical music by introducing “Gayaki Ang” — a technique that makes the violin emulate human vocals — earning her global recognition as the “Singing Violin”.
Dr H.V. Hande: Dr H.V. Hande (Dr H. Venkataramana Hande) is a 99-year-old veteran physician and former Health Minister of Tamil Nadu. He served as the Minister of Health for Tamil Nadu from 1980 to 1986 in the M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) Cabinet. His health policies revolutionised primary healthcare in the State. Under his leadership, India’s first HIV/AIDS case was officially reported and investigated at CMC Vellore in 1986.
He is the recipient of the prestigious Dr B.C. Roy Award, conferred in 1985 by the Medical Council of India for excellence in public service as Health Minister. A senior politician, he was active in the early Swatantra Party before joining the AIADMK and later the BJP. Besides his medical profession, Dr Hande has authored works on Dr B.R. Ambedkar and is known for translating the timeless Kamba Ramayanam and other books.
K. Pajanivel, Silambam master: He is a renowned Silambam master and dedicated promoter of India’s ancient martial arts tradition. He was chosen for the Padma Shri for his exceptional contribution to preserving and popularising indigenous martial arts and folk culture. Hailing from Puducherry, he has devoted over three decades to training thousands of students in Silambam and other traditional martial and folk art forms, while actively promoting Tamil Nadu’s 5,000-year-old weapon-based martial art across India and internationally. Through free training camps, cultural programmes, and grassroots mentorship, he has played a vital role in keeping India’s rich martial heritage alive for future generations.
K. Pajanivel, renowned Silambam master and dedicated promoter of India’s ancient martial arts tradition, will be honoured with the Padma Shri for his exceptional contribution to preserving and popularising indigenous martial arts and folk culture.
Hailing from Puducherry, he has… pic.twitter.com/AZraEFrPhz
— PIB – Ministry of Home Affairs (@PIBHomeAffairs) May 19, 2026
N. Swaminathan, eminent artist and head of the Thevara Padasalai of Dharumapuram Aadheenam, was honoured with the Padma Shri for his exceptional contribution to Tamil Pann Isai, traditional Thirumurai hymns, and the preservation of ancient musical discourses. Celebrated as a supreme artist and ‘A’ grade All India Radio performer with an artistic journey spanning over 55 years, he has dedicated his life to carrying Tamil devotional music to global audiences across continents and releasing over 100 albums. He is deeply revered for his commitment to oral traditions, training generation after generation of students in the fine art of Thirumurai Isai at the grassroots level.
Dr R. Sridhar (Radio Broadcasting): He was chosen for this award for transforming science communication in India. As one of AIR’s first science reporters, he pioneered interactive, people-centric radio. He created Manav Kavikas, one of the world’s longest-running science series for children, and launched India’s first community radio in 2004, giving a platform “by the people, for the people”. Today, community radio has grown to more than 550 locations, especially in rural India, reflecting his lasting impact on grassroots communication.
Sivasankari, author: Chosen for the Padma award for her contribution to Literature and Education, she is a distinguished Indian writer renowned for her profound awareness of social issues, exceptional sensitivity to human suffering, and unwavering commitment to stimulating thoughtful reflection among readers.
Over five decades of sustained literary contribution, she has emerged as a powerful voice of social conscience and occupies a prominent place among the most respected and influential writers of her generation. Her writings are noted for their depth of research, social relevance, and humanistic perspective.
K. Vijayakumar: A highly decorated 1975-batch IPS officer (Tamil Nadu cadre), he was awarded the Padma Shri for his outstanding contributions to public affairs, internal security, and counter-terrorism. Best known for leading the 2004 operation that neutralised forest brigand Veerappan, he served as Director General of the CRPF and Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs.
His distinguished service spans over three decades, during which he held several high-profile positions, including Director General of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), Commissioner of Police, Chennai, and Inspector General of the Border Security Force (BSF) in Kashmir during a critical phase of insurgency.
Earlier in his career, he served in the Special Protection Group (SPG), providing close protection to Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi, and later helped form the Special Security Group (SSG) for the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu.
After retirement, he continued to serve the country as Senior Security Adviser to the Ministry of Home Affairs, focusing on Left Wing Extremism. He was also appointed Adviser to the Governor of Jammu and Kashmir in 2018, overseeing critical portfolios. Among his honours are the President’s Police Medal for Gallantry and other commendations for distinguished service. He is the author of Veerappan: Chasing the Brigand, a detailed account of one of India’s most significant police operations.
Dr Kallipatti Ramasamy Palaniswamy, Padma Bhushan awardee, is an Indian gastroenterologist, medical academic, writer, and senior consultant at a leading private hospital. He is a former president (2004–05) of the Indian Society of Gastroenterology and a patron of its Tamil Nadu chapter.
After graduating in medicine from JJM Medical College, Davangere, in 1972, he continued his studies to secure an MD in General Medicine in 1977 and a DM in Gastroenterology in 1981, while simultaneously working as a faculty member.
In 1986, while serving as Assistant Professor, he was deputed to Stanley Medical College, Chennai, as Professor, where he established the Department of Gastroenterology. Palaniswamy has written several articles on gastroenterology and served as a member of the Academic Boards of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences from 1986 to 1996 and Tamil Nadu Dr M.G.R. Medical University in 1997. He was also part of the Indian delegation for academic exchange programmes to Germany in 1986 and the USSR in 1987.
The Padma Shri award was conferred posthumously on R. Krishnan (Art), and was received by his family members. He was a distinguished tribal artist and musician from the Alu Kurumba community in the Nilgiris, Tamil Nadu. The honour recognised his role in reviving the 3,000-year-old Kurumba tribal art tradition through his remarkable paintings.
Using natural pigments and introducing canvas as a base for the traditional art form, Krishnan created over a thousand paintings that brought wider recognition to Kurumba art.
Reviving the 3,000-year-old Kurumba tribal art tradition through his remarkable paintings, Shri R Krishnan of Tamil Nadu dedicated his life to preserving and promoting indigenous artistic heritage.
Using natural pigments and introducing canvas as a base for the traditional… pic.twitter.com/jRMr6GBkDE
— Ministry of Tribal Affairs, Govt. of India (@TribalAffairsIn) May 25, 2026
Born in the Nilgiris, he belonged to the Alu Kurumba tribe, a marginalised indigenous group known for its rich oral traditions, paintings, and cultural folklore. He was deeply involved in traditional Alu Kurumba music, often using local instruments and folk songs to keep the tribe’s ancestral heritage alive. Krishnan was posthumously conferred the Padma Shri by the President of India for his contribution in the field of Art.
