New Delhi, June 23: On Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu will host the ‘Civil Investiture Ceremony-2’ at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi. Several distinguished individuals set to receive the Padma Awards shared their joy and gratitude for this honor, recounting their life experiences.
Indian field hockey player and Padma Award winner Savita Punia expressed that this recognition is incredibly special to her. “It feels amazing. This is a significant award in itself. I never imagined my journey would be so long, leading to such a prestigious honor. It means a lot to me, my family, and my team,” she stated.
Reflecting on her struggles, Savita recalled moments when she considered quitting sports. However, the support from her family inspired her to persevere. “I thought about giving up many times, but my family’s encouragement kept me going. Reaching this point from a middle-class background feels great. I want to tell the youth that dedication is essential in whatever you do. Patience is crucial, as there are no shortcuts,” she advised.
Sardar Inderjeet Singh Sidhu, who received the Padma Award for his contributions to social service, expressed immense pride in his achievement. “People used to view me differently and questioned why I worked with waste. Now, they commend my efforts and recognize that cleaning the environment is a noble task. Everyone should take responsibility for cleanliness in their area,” he said.
Sidhu shared that he has been troubled by dirt and garbage since childhood. Coming from a family of soldiers, he understood the importance of cleanliness. After retiring in 1996, he focused on sanitation, starting waste collection despite facing criticism. “Whenever I saw litter, it disturbed me, and I would pick it up and dispose of it properly,” he noted, thanking the government for the honor.
Professor Prateek Sharma, awarded the Padma Shri in the medical field, described this recognition as a source of pride and humility. “Receiving this honor is a matter of respect for me. It brings a sense of humility, along with excitement and joy that my work has been acknowledged,” he said.
Professor Sharma’s research interests include gut health, inflammation, Barrett’s esophagus, and reflux disease, commonly known as acidity. He has authored several books and conducted extensive research, with results published widely. He has also collaborated with the Indian government as well as the governments of Gujarat and Andhra Pradesh.
Actor Satish Shah’s Padma Shri award brought joy and pride to his cousin, Arvind Mamania. He described it as a fitting recognition of Shah’s long and remarkable contributions to Indian cinema and television. “It’s hard to put into words. I know if he were here today, he would have thoroughly enjoyed this honor. We feel even happier than he would have,” Mamania expressed emotionally.
He added, “Today, we are happy he received this award, but if he were alive, the joy would have been even greater. We miss him dearly. Every moment spent with him was memorable, and the time we shared can never be forgotten.”
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