The Padma Bhushan award came as a surprise for yesteryear superstar Dharmendra who had never expected that he would be honoured with one of the most prestigious awards of the country.
“It’s a great honour. I’m quite surprised as I had never really thought that I’ll get the Padma award,” the Veeru of Sholay told this newspaper. “It’s the result of all the love that people have given me over the past 50 years. My entire family is very happy. I’m looking forward to personally receive the award from the President,” he said.
Tej, the son of late singer-composer Bhupen Hazarika, who has been awarded the Padma Vibhushan posthumously, said the honour has made the people of Assam proud. “As his son and a lover of Assam, it is gratifying that the government of India should award him with any award or badge of recognition. It is an honour and people have reason enough to be proud of my father’s achievements in life,” Tej said in a message from Toronto, where he lives.
Renowned cardiologist Devi Prasad Shetty, who has been selected for the Padma Bhushan, said the honour would strengthen his resolve to implement health insurance scheme for the poor and make 2,000 children from rural areas join various medical colleges every year. “This award will definitely help me achieve our target,” he said.
Zafar Iqbal, member of the 1980 Summer Olympics field hockey team that won the last Olympic Gold Medal for India, said the Padma Shri award he has been selected for is “an achievement for hockey”. “This award is an inspiration for youngsters, especially at the grassroots, that they should take up hockey in a serious way. There is concern in the hockey fraternity over the lack of growth of the sport in India. But we are all very happy about the Padma Shri award,” Mr Iqbal said.
Former Central Vigilance Commissioner N. Vittal said the honour bestowed on him by being conferred the Padma Bhushan award was a “morale booster” for the country’s civil servants.