Doctors, artists dominate Padma list from UP, Modi's constituency bags six

LUCKNOW: Legendary classical vocalist Girija Devi was among 13 personalities, either living or hailing from Uttar Pradesh (UP), in the list of 112 recipients of prestigious Padma awards announced by the Centre on Monday. UP scored in all the three categories - a Padma Vibhushan, two Padma Bhushan and 10 Padma Shri.
Of 13, five are in art category, six in medicine and one each in public affairs and engineering.However, only three are women. UP was third in the country after Delhi and Maharashtra which bagged 18 and 16 Padma awards respectively.
While six recipients are from the Prime Minister's constituency Varanasi, which included three from Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Union home minister's constituency Lucknow followed with four, including two professors from King George's Medical University (KGMU).
Padma Vibhushan was conferred on Girija Devi, who hails from Varanasi but is now settled in West Bengal. Ravindra Chandra Bhargava and Ram V Sutar got Padma Bhushan in Public Affairs and Art-Sculpture categories respectively.
KGMU vice-chancellor Prof Ravi Kant and noted paediatric surgeon Prof SN Kureel, head of paediatric surgery and chief proctor of KGMU, are among 10 Padma Shri recipients from UP. Malini Awasthi got Padma Shri for folk singing and Dr Sabya Sachi Sarkar for Medicine (radiology).
Padma Shri recipients from Varanasi included Onkar Nath Srivastava, professor emeritus, department of physics, for contribution in the filed of science and engineering. Other recipients from BHU are Prof Ram Harsh Singh (Medicine- Ayurveda) and Prof TK Lahiri (Medicine-Cardio Thoracic Surgery). Consultant Sribhas Chandra Supakar got Padma Shri for textile Designing and singer Soma Ghosh for classical vocal.
Prof Daljeet Singh Gambhir was awarded Padma Shri for contribution to cardiology in medical science.
In fact, said doctors at KGMU, four Georgians (KGMU alumni) got Padma Shri, if one includes Praveen Chandra (from Delhi) who was awarded for contribution in medicine (cardiology), besides Prof Ravi Kant, Prof SN Kureel and Dr Sabyasachi Sarkar.