Daijiworld Media Network - Thiruvananthapuram

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 26: The union government on Saturday announced the prestigious Padma awards, recognizing five distinguished individuals from Kerala for their exceptional contributions in various fields.

Late legendary litterateur and Jnanpith awardee, M T Vasudevan Nair, has been posthumously conferred with the Padma Vibhushan, honouring his unparalleled legacy in literature.

Olympian P R Sreejesh, a two-time Olympic medallist and officer in general education, along with renowned cardiologist Jose Chacko Periyapuram, has been awarded the Padma Bhushan.
K Omanakutty Amma, an 81-year-old academic and revered music teacher, received the Padma Shri. Expressing her joy, Amma remarked, “I owe this honour to my parents and teacher. There were moments in the past when I thought I might receive this, but I had given up hope. Today, I am thrilled beyond words that it has finally come.”

Hailing from a family of celebrated musicians, Omanakutty Amma is the sister of the late M G Radhakrishnan, a legendary musician, and M G Sreekumar, a celebrated Malayalam playback singer.

Former Indian football team captain and assistant commandant of Kerala Police, I M Vijayan, also received the Padma Shri. The football icon celebrated his achievement by cutting a cake, saying, “This is a dream come true. I dedicate this to all my football fans who supported me throughout my career. It came at the perfect time, just before my retirement.”

Kerala takes immense pride in these remarkable individuals whose contributions have brought the state into the national spotlight.