On Padma Shri list, folk artistes, health experts

📌 Dr Vijayalakshmi Deshamane: A veteran oncologist surgeon from Kalaburagi, Dr Deshamane (70) has dedicating over four decades to fighting the disease and provided free treatment and counseling to economically disadvantaged patients. Rising from the marginalised Madiga community, she excelled academically while supporting her family by helping her mother sell vegetables.

📌 Ricky Kej: Three-time Grammy winner Ricky Kej (43) is a globally recognised music composer and environmentalist. Born in North Carolina and raised in Bengaluru, his work spans 24 albums, over 3,500 commercials, and contributions to feature films like Wild Karnataka, narrated by Sir David Attenborough. He recently received his fourth Grammy nomination, with clinical trials underway to assess health benefits of his album Break of Dawn.

📌 Sally Holkar: She is celebrated as the revivalist of the Maheshwari saree. Her work has profoundly impacted rural communities in Madhya Pradesh, preserving a dying art while empowering countless women and artisans to achieve financial independence. Born in Dallas and a graduate from Stanford University, Sally moved to India in 1976 after marrying Richard Holkar, the son of Maharaja of Indore. Her efforts not only brought Maheshwari textiles back into demand but also created new markets. FabIndia was among the first to sell these sarees.

📌 Gokul Chandra Das: Gokul Chandra Das began getting Dhak playing lessons from his father, Matilal Das, when he was five. A resident of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, Das got the first prize “Dhaki Samrat” in Kolkata in 2004 after playing in a competition. He ended gender bias in Dhak beat by training 400 women.

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