Dr. Padmaja Reddy’s Visionary Move: Recognizing Talented Individuals Beyond Prestigious Awards
Renowned Kuchipudi dance guru P.B. Krishna Bharathi has been honoured with the inaugural Telangana Governor’s Award. Krishna Bharathi is a first-batch student of the late Padma Shri Dr. Shobha Naidu, a luminary in Kuchipudi dance. For the first time in the country, Telangana Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma has introduced the prestigious Governor’s Awards to honour distinguished individuals in the fields of arts, social service, and sports.
The awards include a cash prize of ₹2 lakh and a memento. Thousands of applications were received in response to the call for nominations, and a special jury was formed for the selection process. Dr. Padmaja Reddy and Governor’s Secretary Sri Dana Kishore announced that the award ceremony would be held at Raj Bhavan on January 26, Republic Day.
In the cultural category, two individuals were selected for the award: P.B. Krishna Bharathi and Acharya M. Panduranga Rao from Kazipet. In addition, the “Samskruti Foundation,” led by convenor T. Rambabu from Narayanaguda, Hyderabad, was selected in the cultural organisations category.
In the environment and conservation category, Dusarla Satyanarayana from Nalgonda and Madhulika Choudhary of Dhruvansh organization from Shankarpally, Sangareddy, were chosen. In the welfare of differently-abled persons category, Arikapudi Raghu from Ramachandrapuram, Sangareddy, and Dr. Beulah Christie from LV Prasad Eye Institute were recognized. In the sports category, Jeevanji Deepti from Kalleda, Warangal, and Aditya Jitendra Kumar of the Aditya Mehta Foundation from Saroor Nagar, Hyderabad, were honoured.
It was clarified by Dr. Padmaja Reddy that individuals who had previously received prestigious central or state awards were excluded from consideration. The focus was on recognising and honouring talented individuals who had not yet received government recognition.
The decision to introduce these Governor’s Awards with a cash component of ₹2 lakhs is a proud and inspiring initiative by Governor Shri Jishnu Dev Varma making Telangana a model for other states. Unlike the Padma Awards, which hold national prestige but do not include a financial reward, these awards set a unique precedent. Telangana also leads the way by granting Padma awardees housing sites and a financial grant of 1 crore.
The bold and commendable clarification by Dr. Padmaja Reddy, stating that individuals who have already received prestigious awards from the central and state governments are excluded from consideration, reflects a well-thought-out and principled approach. Prioritising the recognition of talented and deserving individuals who have not yet received government acknowledgement is a laudable decision. This approach not only ensures fairness but also serves as a motivational and inspirational benchmark for members serving on such screening committees, fostering transparency and encouraging the identification of unsung achievers.