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3 from J&K, Ladakh get Padma awards
Brij Lal Bhat and Prof Shafi Shauq from Jammu Kashmir Union Territory and Dr Padma Gurmet from Ladakh UT have been selected for the prestigious Padma Shri Award for the year 2026.
President of India has approved conferment of the Padma Awards to the trio among 131 for their distinguished services in various fields.
Padma Shri to Brij Lal Bhat and Prof Shafi Shauq has been announced for their contribution in the field of Social Work and Literature & Education, respectively, while Dr Padma Gurmet has been selected for the award in the field of Medicine.
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80-year old Brij Lal Bhat of Roop Nagar Enclave Jammu, is former Director, Horticulture (P&M) and presently Chairman of Administrative Committee SRMA-Vivekananda Kendra, Nagdandi, Achhabal, Anantnag, Kashmir. He has been working to reconnect displaced Kashmiri Pandits with their roots, fostering peace, cultural unity and rehabilitation with community cooperation.
By utilizing all his resources and working at the grassroots level, he gained the goodwill of the local majority community and developed plans to reconnect displaced Kashmiri Pandits to Kashmir.
75-year old Prof Shafi Shauq of Firdous Colony, Chandapora, Harwan, Srinagar, is a former Faculty member at the University of Kashmir.
He has penned more than five dozen books and journals. He has also written scripts for over 56 television films, serial and documentaries, including ‘Habba Khatoon’, ‘Panah’, ‘Kota Rani’, etc.
Prof Shafi Shauq is also a recipient of Sahitya Akademi Translation Award; Best Book Award from J&K Academy of Art , Culture and Languages; Bhasha Bharti Samman Award from CIIL Mysore; Sahitya Akademi Literature Award 2006; State Award for Outstanding Contribution to Language & Literature; Best Teacher Award of Kashmir University, etc.
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Dr Padma Gurmet’s lifelong dedication to preserving and promoting Sowa-Rigpa, a time-honoured tradition rooted in the Himalayan region has brought global recognition to Ladakh’s rich cultural and medicinal heritage. His pioneering work in research, practice, and education has not only safeguarded this invaluable knowledge system but also integrated it into modern healthcare, benefiting people across the region and beyond.
This prestigious recognition is a testament to Dr Gurmet’s unwavering commitment and the vibrant legacy of Ladakh’s traditional healing practices. It is likely to inspire the youth of Ladakh to carry forward indigenous knowledge systems with equal zeal.
Pertinent to mention that Padma Awards – one of the highest civilian Awards of the country, are conferred in three categories, namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri.
The Awards are given in various disciplines / fields of activities, viz.- Art, Social Work. Public Affairs, Science and Engineering. Trade and Industry, Medicine, Literature and Education, Sports, Civil Service, etc. Padma Shri ‘ is awarded for distinguished service in any field.
The awards are announced on the occasion of Republic Day every year and conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions which are held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March/April.
For the year 2026, the President has approved conferment of 131 Padma Awards including five Padma Vibhushan, 13 Padma Bhushan and 113 Padma Shri Awards. 19 of the awardees are women and the list also includes six persons from the category of Foreigners/NRI/PIO/OCI and 16 Posthumous awardees.
