Three from Karnataka get Padma Shri awards; All you need to know about their contributions
New Delhi: The Central Government on Saturday announced the prestigious Padma Shri awards on the occasion of Republic Day, recognizing excellence across various fields.
Among the awardees, three distinguished individuals from Karnataka—Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar from Bagalkot, Vijayalakshmi Deshmane from Kalaburagi, and Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara from Koppal—have been conferred with the honour for their contributions in folk art, medicine, and puppetry, respectively.
Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar: Keeping Gondhali folk art alive
An 81-year-old maestro of Gondhali folk music and storytelling from the Ghumantu Samaj, Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar has dedicated over six decades to preserving this dying art form. Popularly known as the ‘Bhisma of Gondhali music and storytelling,’ he has sung more than 1,000 Gondhali songs and narrated over 150 stories, passing on the traditional values of devotion, truth, respect for elders, and the significance of a Guru to younger generations.
Despite coming from a humble background, Sugatekar has remained steadfast in his commitment to the art form, ensuring it reaches both rural and urban audiences. He has trained over 1,000 students free of cost, playing a crucial role in the survival and promotion of Gondhali folk traditions.
Vijayalakshmi Deshmane: Pioneer in Cancer treatment
Dr. Vijayalakshmi Deshmane, a veteran oncologist from Kalaburagi, has been recognized for her remarkable contributions to cancer care and research over the past four decades. Rising from humble beginnings in the marginalized Madiga community, she overcame significant challenges to become a leading figure in oncology.
Her father was a textile mill worker, and as a child, she helped her mother sell vegetables while excelling academically. She later went on to lead the Kidwai Memorial Institute of Oncology in Bengaluru, driving advancements in cancer research, treatment, and community awareness.
A pioneer in breast cancer research, Dr. Deshmane has conducted impactful studies and dedicated her life to providing free treatment and counseling to economically disadvantaged cancer patients. Her work has brought hope to countless individuals battling the disease.
Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara: Grandmother of Gombeyaata Puppetry
At 96, Bhimavva Doddabalappa Shillekyathara from Koppal is one of the first female puppeteers to master the traditional leather shadow puppetry art of Togalu Gombeyaata. She learned the craft at the age of 14 and has since spent over seven decades showcasing epics like the Ramayana and Mahabharata through puppetry performances.
Her talent has taken her to over 12 countries, including Japan, Germany, the USA, Italy, France, and Saudi Arabia, where she has introduced global audiences to Karnataka’s rich cultural heritage. She has also played a significant role in modernizing the ancient puppetry techniques while training new generations of artists, ensuring the survival of this traditional art form.
In recognition of her dedication, she was awarded Iran’s Puppetry Award in 1993. Her lifelong commitment to Togalu Gombeyaata has earned her the title of ‘Grandmother of Gombeyaata.’
The Padma Shri awards recognize individuals who have made significant contributions in their respective fields.
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Cong takes swipe at PM over India not being part of US-led 'Pax Silica' grouping
New Delh (PTI) The Congress on Saturday said it is perhaps not very surprising that India is not part of a US-led strategic initiative to build a secure silicon supply chain, given the "sharp downturn" in the Trump-Modi ties, and asserted that it would have been to "our advantage if we had been part of this group".
Congress general secretary in charge of communications Jairam Ramesh took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying the news of India not being part of the group comes after the PM had enthusiastically posted on social media about a telephone call with his "once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC".
In a lengthy post on X, Ramesh said, "According to some news reports, the US has excluded India from a nine-nation initiative it has launched to reduce Chinese control on high-tech supply chains. The agreement is called Pax Silica, clearly as a counter to Pax Sinica. The nations included (for the moment at least) are the US, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia."
"Given the sharp downturn in the Trump-Modi ties since May 10th, 2025, it is perhaps not very surprising that India has not been included. Undoubtedly, it would have been to our advantage if we had been part of this group."
"This news comes a day after the PM had enthusiastically posted on his telephone call with his once-upon-a-time good friend and a recipient of many hugs in Ahmedabad, Houston, and Washington DC," the Congress leader asserted.
The new US-led strategic initiative, rooted in deep cooperation with trusted allies, has been launched to build a secure and innovation-driven silicon supply chain.
According to the US State Department, the initiative called 'Pax Silica' aims to reduce coercive dependencies, protect the materials and capabilities foundational to artificial intelligence (AI), and ensure aligned nations can develop and deploy transformative technologies at scale.
The initiative includes Japan, South Korea, Singapore, the Netherlands, the United Kingdom, Israel, the United Arab Emirates, and Australia. With the exception of India, all other QUAD countries -- Japan, Australia and the US -- are part of the new initiative.
New Delhi will host the India-AI Impact Summit 2026 on February 19-20, focusing on the principles of 'People, Planet, and Progress'. The summit, announced by Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the France AI Action Summit, will be the first-ever global AI summit hosted in the Global South.
Prime Minister Modi and US President Trump on Thursday discussed ways to sustain momentum in the bilateral economic partnership in a phone conversation amid signs of the two sides inching closer to firming up a much-awaited trade deal.
The phone call between the two leaders came on a day Indian and American negotiators concluded two-day talks on the proposed bilateral trade agreement that is expected to provide relief to India from the Trump administration's whopping 50 per cent tariffs on Indian goods.
In a social media post, Modi had described the conversation as "warm and engaging".
"We reviewed the progress in our bilateral relations and discussed regional and international developments. India and the US will continue to work together for global peace, stability and prosperity," Modi had said without making any reference to trade ties.
