100 years old freedom fighter, yoga teacher from Kuwait, these personalities from India and abroad got Padma awards

Libia Lobo Sardesai, who played an important role in Goa’s freedom movement has been awarded the Padma Shri by the President of India and Kuwaiti yoga teacher Sheikha AJ Al Sabah founded Daraatma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio ( File Images )

Padma Awards 2025: The Padma Awards have been announced on the eve of Republic Day. 30 unsung heroes, including a 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa and the first Indian woman to perform puppet show, will be given Padma Awards.

Padma Awards 2025: A 100-year-old freedom fighter from Goa, a Dhak player from West Bengal who trained 150 women in Dhak playing in a male-dominated field and the first Indian woman to perform puppet show are among the 30 unsung heroes who have been announced to be awarded the Padma Shri. This information was given in a government statement on Saturday January 25, 2025 . Apart from this, Kuwait’s yoga practitioner Sheikha AJ Al Saba and Uttarakhand’s travel blogger couple Hugh and Colleen Gantzer will be awarded the Padma Shri.

First licensed yoga studio launched in Kuwait

Kuwaiti yoga teacher Sheikha AJ Al Sabah founded Daraatma, Kuwait’s first licensed yoga studio, combining traditional techniques with modern methods to promote yoga practice in the Gulf region. Sheikha launched the yoga education license in Kuwait, providing official recognition to yoga practices. She is also the co-founder of Shams Youth Yoga, a comprehensive curriculum for children aged 0 to 14. In 2021 launched “Yamnak Lil Yemen”, a fund raiser for Yemeni refugees and internally displaced persons, and in 2020 supported pandemic relief by providing educational materials to underprivileged children in Kuwait.

Who is 57-year-old Gokul Chandra Dey, who was awarded Padma Shri

The awardees also include 57-year-old Dhak player Gokul Chandra Dey from West Bengal, who broke gender stereotypes by training 150 women in a male-dominated field. Dey also created a lightweight Dhak type of instrument, weighing 1.5 kg less than the traditional instrument. He represented India at various international forums and performed with celebrities like Pandit Ravi Shankar and Ustad Zakir Hussain.

82-year-old Sally Holkar awarded Padma Shri

82-year-old Sally Holkar, a vocal supporter of women’s empowerment, included in the list of Padma Shri awardees, played a key role in reviving the dying Maheshwari craft and set up a handloom school in Maheshwar, Madhya Pradesh to impart training in traditional weaving techniques. Inspired by the legacy of Queen Ahilyabai Holkar, born in America, Sally Holkar dedicated five decades of her life to reviving the 300-year-old legacy of weaving.