Gujarat Celebrates Five Padma Shri Awardees for 2026
In a moment of immense pride for the state, five distinguished personalities from Gujarat have been conferred with the prestigious Padma Shri award for their remarkable contributions across diverse fields. The announcement, made on the eve of Republic Day, recognizes their lifelong dedication to art, social service, and literature.
Meet the Esteemed Awardees
The five recipients from Gujarat are celebrated for their unique and impactful work:
- Arvind Vaidya (85) – An acclaimed actor-director with over 60 years in Gujarati theatre, hailing from Masur village in Maharashtra but making Gujarat his karmabhoomi. He has directed more than 200 plays and is renowned for sculpting theatre into a force of artistry and truth.
- Dharmiklal Chunilal Pandya (94) – A Vadodara-based expert in the traditional Gujarati Mannbhatt ‘Akhyan’ style of storytelling. He has preserved this ancient art through teaching, writing, and composing, presenting over 2,500 Akhyans globally and using the medium for social awareness campaigns.
- Mir Haji Kasambhai (80s) – A renowned dholak player from Junagadh with a six-decade career, performing in over 1,000 stage programs. Known as ‘Haji Ramakdu’, he is also recognized for his charity work in cow conservation, leading more than 35,000 events.
- Nilesh Mandlewala (60) – A Surat-based social worker and founder of Donate Life, dedicated to raising awareness about cadaver organ donation. He has facilitated over 1,300 organ donations and established more than 100 retrieval hospitals in Gujarat.
- Ratilal Borisagar (88) – A noted Gujarati writer from Savarkundla, acclaimed for humor collections like Marak Marak and Anandlok, novels, and popular columns, having penned more than 17 books.
Insights from the Awardees
The recipients expressed humility and joy upon receiving the honor. Dharmiklal Pandya credited the tradition to great poets like Premanand, stating, “This honor is not mine; it belongs to the great poet Premanand, Narsinh Mehta, and Hemchandracharya. I merely made the effort and succeeded.”
Mir Haji Kasambhai shared his elation, saying, “I am extremely happy to receive this award. I have no words to describe my feelings. Today, I received the fruits of my hard work of nearly six decades.”
Nilesh Mandlewala dedicated the award to organ donors and supporters, emphasizing, “This award belongs to all those organ donors and their relatives who agreed to save the lives of others.”
Ratilal Borisagar reflected on his writing journey, noting, “It is always a matter of great joy when your work is recognized at the national level.”
Broader Context of the Padma Awards
The Union government announced a total of 131 Padma awards for 2026, including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. This recognition highlights the diverse talents and contributions from across India, with Gujarat’s five awardees standing out for their dedication and impact in their respective fields.
These awards not only honor individual achievements but also inspire future generations to pursue excellence in art, social service, and literature, reinforcing the rich cultural and social fabric of the nation.
