Thiruvananthapuram: Former Union Minister and senior BJP leader O. Rajagopal has been honored with the Padma Bhushan, the third-highest civilian honor in the country, on the eve of India’s 75th Republic Day. The award recognizes his contributions in the public sphere. Rajagopal had previously made history by winning the Nemom Assembly Constituency (2016) for the BJP in Kerala.
Eight Malayalis have been conferred with Padma Awards this year. Six have been honored with the Padma Shri, the fourth-highest civilian honor. The late Supreme Court Justice Fathima Beevi has been posthumously conferred with the Padma Bhushan. Those honored with the Padma Shri include Kathakali maestro Sadanam Balakrishnan (Art), Paddy farmer Satyanarayana Beleri (Agriculture), Theyyam artist EP Narayanan (Art), writer Chithran Namboodiripad (Literature & education), Muni Narayana Prasad (Literature & education), and Aswathi Thirunal Gouri Lakshmi Bayi Thampuratty (Literature & education).
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