The News Minute | January 26, 2015 | 11:08 am IST
The Indian government recently put out the list of people to be awarded the Padma awards, some of India's highest civilian honours.
This year 104 persons have been selected for the Padma awards, including 9 Padma Vibhushan, 20 Padma Bhushan and 75 Padma Shri awardees. The list includes 17 women and 17 persons from the category of foreigners, NRIs, PIOs and 4 Posthumous awardees.
However, three people who were reportedly selected for the awards have declined it.
Salim khan
Noted Bollywood scriptwriter Salim Khan has reportedly declined to receive the Padma Shree award, India’s fourth highest civilian honour.
According to The Indian Express Salim Khan, Bollywood actor Salman Khan’s father, turned down the award saying it did not match his status and that the award had come him too late.
The Padma Shri is conferred to a citizens for distinguished service in any field.
Khan said that the central government has ignored him 'for years' and has honoured 'a number of my peers as well as juniors in the industry'. When he recently came to know that "my name is on the Padma awards list, I thought that I’m finally getting what I deserve. But when I came to know that the ministry has chosen me for Padma Shri, I felt it does not match my status and work", he told The Indian Express.
He however added that he was happy that the present government has acknowledged his contribution to Indian cinema, unlike the previous government.
Salim Khan was part of the famous Salim-Javed duo. He co-wrote scripts for several successful films including Sholay, Andaz, Yaadon Ki Baraat, and Mr India.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar
Spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, who's name was reportedly being considered by the government as one of the recipients of the Padma award this year, had also recently turned down the award.
He took to Twitter to announce his decision, saying he'd rather the award went to 'someone else'.
Rajnath Singhji called to inform me about Padma Awards.I thank Govt.for considering me.Instead of me, I'd like them to honour someone else.
— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) January 24, 2015People ask why I haven't refused other awards! Highest civilian awards from other countries were conferred without asking for my consent.(1)
— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) January 25, 2015Since Rajnathji gave me a choice whether I would like to accept the Padma or not, I preferred that it goes to someone else. (2)
— Sri Sri Ravi Shankar (@SriSri) January 25, 2015Baba Ramdev
Yoga guru Baba Ramdev was reportedly among one of the names being considered by the Indian government for a Padma Vibhushan, India's second highest civilian award, on the occasion of the 66th Republic Day.
Ramdev too is said to have declined the award in a letter written to Union Home minister Rajnath Singh.
According to The Indian Express, part of Baba Ramdev’s letter reads, “I have come to know that the government desires to honour me with Padma Vibhushan. I express my gratitude… I am a sanyasi and I consider it my sacred duty to work selflessly towards my sanyas dharma, along with rashtra dharma and seva dharma… I want to request you, with politeness and gratitude, to confer this honour to any other great personality.”