NEW DELHI, April 2 - President Ram Nath Kovind today awarded the fourth highest civilian award Padma Shri to Prafulla Govinda Baruah, Editor of The Assam Tribune and Managing Director of the Assam Tribune Group, at a glittering function at the Durbar Hall of the Rashtrapati Bhawan here in the presence of Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his Cabinet colleagues, top officials and high dignitaries.
Baruah was awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions in the field of literature, education and journalism.
In today�s ceremony, 43 Padma awardees were honoured. The first group of 43 Padma awardees of 2018 was honoured at a special function held on March 20.
The function began with the President awarding Padma Bhushan to snooker player Pankaj Advani and cricketer Mahendra Singh Dhoni whose wife Sakshi Dhoni was present to watch her husband being honoured. Former Ambassador of Russia to India, Alexander Mikhailovich Kadakin was awarded Padma Bhushan posthumously. The other Padma Bhushan awardees included artiste Lakshman Pai and musician Sharda Sinha.
Last evening, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hosted a dinner and addressed the awardees at an interactive session. He said the country was proud of all the Padma awardees as they had a major contribution in the nation�s progress. Congratulating them, he said that their selfless service was locally recognised till now but with these awards it received national recognition.
