Wipro’s Premji leads Padma awardees among industrialists

NEW DELHI - Wipro chairman Azim Premji led the list of this year’s awardees named for the government’s civilian “Padma” honours, among the representatives of trade and industry here Tuesday.

Premji, who has also made a mark in philanthropy, was named for the second highest Padma Vibushan award.

In the list of 128 awardees for Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri announced by the home ministry, members of trade and industry were represented in equal measure, accounting for some dozen honours.

Infosys chief executive Kris Gopalakrishnan, ITC’s Yogi Deveshwar, Dr. Reddy Labs’ Anji Reddi, Max Group’s Analjit Singh, NIIT’s Rajendra S. Pawar, GVK Group’s G.V.K. Reddy, HCL’s Ajai Chowdhary, and ICICI Bank’s chief executive Chanda Kochhar were in the list of Padma Bhushan awardees.

Leather major Fareeda Group’s Mecca Rafeeque Ahmed, pharma major Orchid Group’s Kailasam Raghavendra Rao and leading Singapore-based investor and prominent member of the Indian diaspora Satpal Khattar were named for Padma Shri awards.

“The awards are conferred by the President of India at a function held at Rashtrapati Bhawan sometime around March or April,” an official communique said.

The awards are given in all disciplines and fields of activities, including arts, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports and civil service.