(RE)DISCOVERY OF INDIA

By putting the spotlight on regular people with exceptional achievements the rejigged Padma awards are inspiring a rediscovery of India EPISODE #110

Dear Reader,

A very Happy Monday to you.

Last week India celebrated its 74th Republic Day, marking the moment when it adopted its Constitution on 26 January 1950. Besides showcasing its cultural and military might, the country also uses the day to acknowledge and honour some of its outstanding citizens with what is called Padma awards.

In the last few years the nature of these awards have undergone a fundamental makeover. I have written previously about this pivot. And yet every new award season does not cease to surprise and inspire. Yes, there are the inevitable clutch of politicians, celebrities with dubious credentials who do sneak in. Trust me, they are a side show.

Instead, it is about people like us, regular citizens who have outstanding accomplishments. People who otherwise we would never have known about. So this week I put the spotlight afresh on the new idea of Padma awards, which is enabling, as I say in the headline, ‘(Re)Discovery of India’.

The spectacular cover picture is from the Republic Day parade this year and sourced from the Press Information Bureau.

A big shoutout to Raj, Shiv, Ranjini, Saurabh, Murali, Gautam, Premasundaran and Vandana for your informed responses, kind appreciation and amplification of last week’s column. Once again, grateful for the conversation initiated by readers. Gratitude also to all those who responded on Twitter and Linkedin. Reader participation and amplification is key to growing this newsletter community. And, many thanks to readers who hit the like button😊

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A KALEIDOSCOPE

If you have ever viewed a kaleidoscope—even the simple ones we assembled at home as kids, with three strips of glass stacked together in a triangle and strewn with broken bangles—you would understand the feeling of being mesmerised.

This is exactly how I have felt in recent years, while going through the annual list of Padma awards—the highest civilian awards announced on the eve of Republic day—recipients.

For one, it reveals the rich depth of commitment to civic consciousness in India. Second, each story is one of amazing inspiration; they battle the same odds that overcome us to achieve exceptional social change. It renews India’s faith in itself and its inherent abilities—so critical to realise the monumental transformation the country desires by 2047.

For the record there are three categories of awards: Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. Four, if you include the Bharat Ratna. More details are available at this link.

“The award seeks to recognise works of distinction and is given for distinguished and exceptional achievements/service in all fields of activities/disciplines.”

I have written about the Padma awards previously and shared the logic of my endless pleasure. Sharing a small quote from that episode, written after the actual awards distribution by then President Ramnath Kovind.

“The awards offered those watching a slice of India that we rarely read about or see nationally. Indeed it was awe inspiring and humbling to know that we have so many regular people among us who do such outstanding social good. All of it without seeking the glare of media attention.

It is not that their social work is new. They have been at it for years. Instead it is that they are now visible.”

I am sharing the link below, in case you wish to re-read the earlier newsletter:

WE, THE PEOPLE OF INDIA

The Pivot

It is not that deserving citizens were not get acknowledged in the past. Of course they did. However, the process was not transparent. And most often it was all about one’s connections (including journalists) to the ruling establishment.

The big pivot came in 2015, when the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance democratised selection by permitting anyone to nominate a person they believe was worthy of a Padma Shri. This enabled discovery like never before.

Thereafter the list of potential awardees is reviewed by a committee headed by the Union Cabinet secretary and also includes the home secretary, secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons. The final list is cleared by the President and the Prime Minister.

The Winners

This year, 91 people were honoured with a Padma Shri; nine received a Padma Bhushan and six were awarded the Padma Vibhushan. The full list can be accessed here.

I will share a few examples to argue my case. The pictures have been sourced from the government.

Dilip Mahalanabis (Padma Vibhushan): The 87-year old pioneered the use of Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS), an inexpensive solution which has managed to reduce deaths due to diarrhea by a staggering 93%.

He first demonstrated the effectiveness of ORS in the refugee camps that were set up to accommodate the 1971 war refugees.

Hirabai Lobi (Padma Shri): A social worker who has dedicated her life to the upliftment of the women and children in her ethnic community—Siddis. While she is from Junagarh, Gujarat, Siddis, a rare ethnic lot, also inhabit parts of Karnataka. (I had met and documented a few during a Master’s field research in 1984.)

Munishwar Chander Dawar (Padma Shri): A retired army doctor who had served in the 1971 war to liberate Bangladesh, he was recognised for providing affordable health care to the underprivileged for the last 50 years. Till as late as 2010 his charge was as low as Rs2, which has since been raised to Rs20.

Vadivel Gopal and Masi Sadaiyan (Padma Shri): The duo, who catch snakes to extract their venom for medicinal use, belong to the Irula tribe. Known as “forest scientists”, the Irula tribe is key to saving people from snake bites.

Moa Subong (Padma Shri): A musician from Nagaland, he was honoured for developing a new and easy way to play Bamhum, a wind musical instrument made from bamboo. He also founded a musical band, Abiogenesis, which combines traditional Naga music with modern rock and worked to channelise the restless energy of the Naga youth. Located a Tedx Talk by him.

Trust, these examples have left you both informed and inspired. I rest my case on the new look Padma awards.

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Recommended Viewing/Reading

Sharing my latest post on StratNews Global.

In two days from now, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led National Democratic Alliance will present its 10th Union Budget. It will also be the fifth budget in a row from Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman; a record in itself, as she is the first woman to do a full term in North Block.

The big question is what will NDA do in its last full-fledged Budget ahead of general election next year.

Will it be one laced with populism, costing an already burdened exchequer (like the Congress-led United Progressive Alliance did in 2008 by announcing a farm loan waiver)? Or will it be, as I argued in my monthly column in the Economic Times: A Foundational Budget?

To answer these vexing questions and more I spoke to Haseeb Drabu. Haseeb is a gifted economist and the former Finance Minister of Jammu and Kashmir. According to Haseeb the challenges ahead of this regime are immense.

The world is facing inclement challenges, having been rocked by repeated shocks, beginning with the covid-19 pandemic. And then there is the temptation to play to electoral interests ahead of another key general election.

Haseeb argues that the NDA will talk politics but eventually do good economics. Do watch and share your thoughts.

Sharing the link below.

I am also sharing my column published in the Economic Times last week. I go out on a limb and argue that the NDA will resist the populist temptation and instead invest in a 25-year growth plan to transform India into a middle income economy by 2047.

I am taking cue from the NDA’s decision to quietly effect a partial rollback of the free food grain programme in December. It is a clear signal that fiscal prudence is still very much part of its lexicon. Do read and share your feedback.

Till we meet again next week, stay safe.