Names of India's Padma Shri awardees this year have been announced. Rezwana Chowdhury Banya, the eminent Rabindra musician of Bangladesh, has been awarded the fourth highest civilian award in India.
On Thursday (January 25), India's Ministry of Home Affairs announced the names of the nominees for the Padma Awards in a press note.
India's highest civilian award is the Bharat Ratna. Then there are Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. These medals are awarded in recognition of contributions in arts, social work, science and engineering, commerce and industry, public service, medicine, literature and education, sports and civic service.
This year the Government of India has nominated 132 eminent persons for the Padma Award. Among them five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan and 110 Padma Shri.
The names of the medalists are announced every year ahead of the Republic Day of India. The awards are usually presented in a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April.
Rezwana Chowdhury Bannya was born in Patuakhali district. She studied at Chhayanaut and Visva Bharati University in India. She also got admission in Bulbul Lalitkala Academy.
Rezwana Chowdhury received the country's highest state award, Swadhinata Padak, in 2016 for her outstanding contribution to music. Besides, she has received many awards including Feroza Begum Smriti Gold Medal, Citycell-Channel i Music Award, Ananda Sangeet Award. She also received several medals in India. Notable among them is Bangabhushan.