March, 2014

Padma Awards for the Year 2014

The Union Government of India on the eve of the 65th Republic Day function announced the Padma Awards 2014. Pranab Mukherjee, the President of Union of India on 25 January 2013 approved 127 Padma Awards. Two people were conferred with Padma Vibhusan, twenty four were conferred with Padma Bhushan and 101 people were given Padma Shree. Out of 127 awardees, 27 were women and 10 people belonged to categories like NRIs, PIOs, Foreigners and Posthumous. Following is the list of 127 Padma Award winners:

Table

Padma Awards

Padma Awards are the highest Civilian Awards and are conferred to people in three different categories namely, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. These Awards are conferred on people for the work done by them in different categories including art, social work, public affairs, science and engineering, trade and industry, medicine, literature and education, sports, civil service, and many more. Padma Vibhusan is conferred on the people for the exceptional and distinguished services done by them.

• Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order

• Padma Shri is given to a person for his/her distinguished service in any field

These awards are announced  on the eve of Republic Day celebration and are conferred by the President of India at a function organised at Rastrapati Bhawan sometime around March/April every year.

56th annual Grammy Awards

The Recording Academy announced the 56th Annual Grammy Awards at Staples Center in Los Angeles, California on 26 January 2014. This year the Grammy Awards weren’t just about the music and they were also about making a statement in the same-sex marriage debate.

About Grammy Awards

The Grammy awards are the recording industry’s most prestigious award presented annually by The Recording Academy.The Recording Academy also known as The National Academy of Recording Arts & Science in United States was established in 1957.

The Grammy Awards are truly a peer honor, awarded by and to artists and technical professionals for artistic or technical achievement. The Grammy Awards presentation brings together thousands of creative and technical professionals in the recording industry from all over the world.

71st Golden Globe Awards 2014

71st Golden Globe Awards were announced at Los Angeles on 11 January 2014. The event was organised by Hollywood Foreign Press Association. It is one of the few awards ceremonies that span both television and motion picture achievements. The winners in the various categories are as follows- -

• Best Motion Picture, Drama : 12 Years a slave

• Best Director - Motion Picture: Alfonso Cuaron for Gravity

• Best Actress in a Motion Picture Cate Blanchett for Blue Jasmine

• Best Actor in a Motion Picture, Drama: Mathew Mc Conaughey for Dollas Buyers Club

• Best Motion Picture Musical or Comedy - American Hustle

• Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Musical or Comedy - Leonardo DiCaprio – The Wolf of Wall Street

• Best Actress in a Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy - Amy Adams – American Hustle

• Best Actor in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy - Jared Leto – Dallas Buyers Club

• Best Actress in a Motion Picture – Drama, Musical or Comedy Jennifer Lawrence - American Hustle

• Best Screenplay- Spike Jonze – Her

• Best Animated Feature Film- Frozen

• Best Foreign Language Film - The Great Beauty (Italy)

Woody Allen won a lifetime achievement award for more than four decades of writing, producing and directing films.

59th Idea Filmfare Awards 2013

59th Idea Filmfare Awards were given away on 24 January 2014. At the 59th Idea Filmfare Awards, Bhaag Milkha Bhaag grabbed seven Black Lady awards. The award for the Best Actor was given to Farhaan Akhtar
for his performance in Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Deepika Padukone on the other hand was adjudged as the Best Actress for Ramleela. Bhaag Milkha Bhaag was awarded with the Best Film award, and its director
Omprakash Mehra won the Black Lady for the Best Director. The lifetime achievement award was given away to Tanuja.

Some of the Awards were as follows:

• Award for Best Film (Critics): Ritesh Batra (The Lunchbox)

• Award for Best Actor (Critics): Rajkummar Rao (Shahid)

• Award for Best Actress (Critics): Shilpa Shukla (BA Pass)

• Award for Best Story: Subhash Kapoor (Jolly LLB)

• Award for Best Actor in a Supporting Role: Nawazuddin Siddiqui (The Lunchbox)

• Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role: Supriya Pathak Kapur (Goliyon Ki Raslila- Ram Leela)

• Award for Best Music: Jeet Ganguly, Mithoon and Ankit Tiwari (Aashiqui 2)

• Award for Best Lyrics: Prasoon Joshi for Zinda (Bhaag Milkha Bhaag)

• Award for Best Playback Singer Male: Arijit Singh (Tum hi ho, Aashiqui)

• Award for Best Playback Singer Female: Monali Thakur (Sawaar loon, Lootera)

• The RD Burman Award: Sidharth Mahadevan

Amadelkufa in South Africa

Ela Gandhi, the granddaughter of Mahatma Gandhi was honoured withAmadelkufa in South Africa on 26 January 2014. She was honoured for her lifetime contribution to the freedom struggle of South Africa. Amdelkufa in Zulu language means Sacrifice.She formed the trio of Indian-origin South Africans along with Sunny Singh and Mac Maharaj. These three played an active role in the Umkhonto we Sizwe (Spear of the Nation). The Umkhonto we Sizwe was the armed struggle wing of the African National Congress. Umkhonto we Sizwe’s former members were incorporated into the South African defence force after 1994, when multi-racial democracy came in existence in the country, followed by the release of Nelson Mandela. Mandela was the first democratically-elected president of South Africa.

Lokmanya Tilak National Award

Mammen Mathew, the Chief Editor and Managing Director of Malayala Manorma has been chosen for prestigious journalism award instituted by a trust founded by Lokamanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak on 31 December 2013. The Lokmanya Tilak National Award instituted by the Kesari Mahratta Trust for excellence in journalism consist a memento and a cash of 1 lakh rupees. It will be given on the day of celebrations of the trust’s 133rd foundation day at Tilakwada, Pune on 4 January 2013.

Sunil Gangopadhyay Award 2012 & 2013

President of India, Pranab Mukherjee presented the Sunil Gangopadhyay Memorial Award of 2012 and 2013 on 11 January 2014 to two eminent Bengali poets, namely Nirendranath Chakraborty and Sankha Ghosh, respectively.

The awards were given at a function at Raj Bhawan in Kolkata. About Sunil Gangopadhyay Memorial Award The Sunil Gangopadhyay Memorial Award was instituted by a cultural organisation The Bengal in 2012 following his death. Gangopadhyay had a talent of bringing in the historical research works into his writings.

Pravasi Bharatiya Samman Awards

Pranab Mukherjee, the President of India on 9 January 2014 conferred the Pravasi Bhartiya Samman Awards to thirteen NRIs, PIOs and organisations for their outstanding contribution in the country of their residence as well as to India. The Pravasi Bhartiya Divas was organised in New Delhi from 7 to 9 January 2014. The theme for the year was Engaging Diaspora: Connecting Across Generations.

Following people were awarded

• Lisa Maria Singh from Australia she was given for Public service and fostering friendly relations between India and Australia.

• Kurian Varghese from Bahrain was awarded for Business for enhancing India’s image and for Promotion better understanding of India abroad.

• Vasdev Chanchlani from Canada was awarded for Community service and fostering ties between India and Canada and efforts in promotion Indian culture and heritage.

• Ramakrishna Mission from Fiji was awarded for Community service and philanthropic activity and enhancing India’s prestige abroad.

• Satnarainsing Rabin Baldewsingh from Netherlands was awarded for Public service and developing closer ties between India and South Africa.

• Bikas Chandra Sanyal from France was awarded for Education and culture and enhancing India’s image.

• Sasindran Muthuvel from Papua New Guinea was awarded for the field of Public service.

• Shihabudeen Vava Kunju from Saudi Arabia was awarded for the Community service and promoting ties between India and the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

• Ela Gandhi from South Africa was awarded for Public service, enhancing India’s image and promoting ties between India and South Africa.

• Shamsheer Vayalil Parambath from United Arab was awarded for Health business and in promoting Better understanding of India United Arab Emirates.

• Shailesh Lakhman Vara from United Kingdom has been awarded for Public service and in promoting ties between India and the people of U.K.

• Parthasarathy Chiramel Pillai from USA was awarded for Science and for fostering closer relations between India and USA.

• Renu Khator from USA has been awarded for Education and enhancing India’s prestige abroad.

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas

Pravasi Bharatiya Divas (PBD) is celebrated on 9 January every year to mark the contribution of Overseas Indian community in the development of India. Mahatma Gandhi returned from South Africa to India on 9 January 1915 and that’s the reason that the day has been chosen to celebrate the day. He has been termed as the greatest Pravasi of India, who led the freedom struggle and changed the lives of Indians forever. PBD conventions are being held every year since 2003. These conventions provide a platform to the overseas Indian community to engage with the government and people of the land of their ancestors for mutually beneficial activities. These conventions are also very useful in networking among the overseas Indian community residing in various parts of the world and enable them to share their experiences in various fields.

Ramanujan Mathematics award

Anand Kumar, a mathematician and founder of Super30 classes was conferred with the 2014 Ramanujan Mathematics Award in Rajkot on 27 January 2014. The award was given to him at the Eighth National Mathematics Convention organised in  Rajkot. As award, he was presented a cash award of 20000 rupees by the Pitamber Patel, an Atomic scientist and JJ Rawal, a scientist.

About Ramanujan Mathematics Award

• Ramanujan Mathematics Award is an annual award that is given to a person who has at least three papers published in international journals and is involved in teaching mathematics.

• Ramanujan Prize was first awarded in 2005 to Marcelo Viana from Brazil

• Other Indian to be awarded with the prize is Ramdorai Sujatha, India in 2006

• Three times, Kumar has been invited jointly by the Mathematical Association of America and the American Mathematical Society to present his papers

• Time Magazine selected Super30 in the list of the Best of Asia 2010

• It was included in the list of four most innovative schools in the world by the Newsweek Magazine

The Legion of Honor

Danielle Steel awarded France’s highest honour, the Legion of Honor. It was revealed by the government’s official newsletter on 1 January 2014.

• Steel, US author joined other foreigners such as singers Bono, Douglas MacArthur, Julia Child and Bob Dylan or writer Philip Roth who received the France highest honour in recognition of service to France.

• She has sold 600 million copies of her books in 70 countries and in 43 languages.

• Steel had been already decorated as an officer of the Order of Arts and Letters, France’s top Cultural honour.

• She was made a Chevalier of the order, which was founded by Napoleon in 1802.

20th Screen Awards

Deepika Padukone and Farhan Akhtar won the Best Actress and Best Actor awards respectively on 15 January 2014 at the 20th Screen Awards. Padukone was awarded as the best actor Award (female) for Ram-leela and Farhan was awarded for his power packed performance in the Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Apart from the award of the best actress, Padukone also bagged the most popular choice award (female) for Chennai Express. She had four blockbuster movies in 2013 namely Race 2, Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani, Chennai Express and Ram Leela. All the four films were ranked in the 100- crore club in the box office. The Most Popular Choice Award (male) was given to Shah Rukh Khan for Chennai Express. Amitabh Bachan received the Lifetime Achievement Award. Other awards announced and given were:

• Special Jury Award: won by director Anand Gandhi for Ship of Theseus

• Ram Nath Goenka Memorial award – won by John Abraham for Madras Cafe

• Best on-screen Jodi of the Year – given to Aditya Roy Kapur and Shraddha Kapoor of Aashiqui 2

• Best Film Award – won by Bhaag Milkha Bhaag

• Best Director Award – won by Shoojit Sircar for Madras Cafe

• Best Story Award – won by Mohan Sikka for BA Pass

• Best Screenplay – won by Hansal Mehta, Sameer Gautam Singh and Apurva Asrani for the biopic on murdered lawyer Shahid Azmi (Shahid)

• Best Supporting Actor awards – won by Saurabh Shukla and Swara Bhaskar for Jolly LLB and Raanjhanaa respectively

• Best Actor in Negative Role (male) – won by Rishi Kapoor for his role in D Day in which he played the role of Dawood Ibrahim

• Best Actor in Negative Role (female) – won by Shilpa Shukla for her erotic drama in BA pass

• Best Actor in Comic Role award – won by Richa Chadda for Fukrey

• Most promising newcomer award - won bySushant Singh Rajput for Kai Po Che

• Most promising newcomer (female) – won by Aida Ei-Kashef for Ship of Theseus

• Most promising debut director – won by Ritesh Batra for The Lunchbox

Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Awards

The Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Kumari Selja on 7 January 2014 gave away the Dr. Ambedkar National Merit Awards to meritorious students belonging to Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The awards were given to students, who have appeared in Secondary and Senior Secondary School Examination - 2013 conducted by State/Central Education Boards/Councils. 517 meritorious students from 13 boards of 10th class and 17 boards of 12th class of the year 2013 were found eligible for the Awards.

UNWTO Ulysses Awards

Ulysses Award given by United Nation World Tourism Organisation (UNWTO) was presented on 22 January 2014.The awards were given for Excellence and Innovation in Tourism. The winners were announced at the Awards Ceremony which took place at the International Tourism Trade Fair (FITUR) in Madrid, Spain.

The list of 2013 UNWTO Awardees

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Public Policy and Governance: Responsible Tourism Project at Kumarakom, Department of Tourism, Government of Kerala, India.

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Enterprises: Arromanches 1944, Biplan, France

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Non- Governmental Organizations: From Charity to Social Entrepreneurship, Borneo Ecotourism Solutions and Technologies (BEST) Society, Malaysia.

UNWTO Ulysses Award for Innovation in Research and Technology: 3D AR Visual Portal, DSP Studio & Momentum Studio, Croatia.

About Ulysses Award

These are the flagship awards for the global tourism sector, recognizing knowledge creation, dissemination and innovative applications. Every year, Awards are conferred by the UNWTO and the UNWTO Knowledge Network to highlight and showcase innovation and application of Knowledge in Tourism. In doing so, the UNWTO Awards seek to recognize and stimulate knowledge creation, dissemination and innovative applications in tourism and to bring to light the latest advances in the area. This has a transversal effect on governance and society at large.

Thiruvalluvar award

Taiwanese poet Yushi was awarded the Thiruvalluvar award on 15 January 2014 by the Tamil Nadu government in Chennai. Yushi is the first foreign scholar to receive Thiruvalluvar award. The award was given to Yushi on the occasion of Thiruvalluvar Day.

The award was given to him in recognition of his contribution to the Tamil language. Yushi has translated Tirukkural (one of the collection of sangam literature), the poems of poet Subramanya Bharathi and poet Bharathidasan in Mandarin, Chinese language. The Thiruvalluvar award carries a gold medal and a cheque of one lakh rupees. Yushi is the founder president of the Tamil Sangam in Taiwan. In 2004 he received the
highest honour award by Seoul World Academy of Arts and Culture.

National Communal Harmony Awards 2013

Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS), Mumbai on 25 January 2014 was selected for the National Communal Harmony Awards 2013 in the organisation category. In the individual category award, Mohinder Singh of Delhi and N Radhakrishnan of Kerala were selected. The award carries a citation in each category, the Award carries a cash award of Five Lakh Rupees for Individuals and Ten Lakh Rupees for Organizations.

About the Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS)

The Centre for Study of Society and Secularism (CSSS) a Mumbai based organization was established in 1996 to work to promote peace, secularism and communal harmony in the country. It has also been working on human rights issues and issues of the marginalized and deprived sections of the society.

About National Communal Harmony Awards

The National Communal Harmony Awards were instituted in 1996 by the National Foundation for Communal Harmony (NFCH), an autonomous Organization set up by the Government of India, Ministry of Home Affairs. The award was instituted to promote communal harmony and national integration. It was instituted with a vision to demonstrate due to appreciation and recognition of the efforts of individuals and organisations that
promotes communal harmony and national integration.

DSC prize 2014

Cyrus Mistry won the DSC prize 2014 for South Asian literature for his book Chronicles of a Corpse Bearer on 18 January 2014. Mistry was awarded with a cash price of 50000 dollars at Jaipur International Literature Festival 2014. Chronicle of a Corpse Bearer derives a true story of the son of a Parsi priest, who falls in love with the daughter of a corpse bearer, a community segregated and shunned by society.

About DSC Prize

This category was instituted in 2010 with cash prize, which is not limited by geography or ethnicity. Short story is not eligible for the award. A book focusing on the culture, politics, history and the people of South Asia can be entered for the prize. Earlier, winners are

• H M Nagvi for his novel Home Boy in 2011

• Shehan Karunatilaka for his novel Chinaman: The Legend of Pradeep Mathew in 2012

• Jeet Thayil for his novel Narcopolis in 2013

Matrix Award

Rapper-turned-actress Queen Latifah won the 2014 Matrix Award on 25 January 2014. New York Women in Communications presented the 2014 Matrix Awards to honor seven remarkable women who have changed the world, through their work in the communications industry.

About Matrix Award

The Matrix Awards is recognized by the communications and entertainment communities as one of the most outstanding and prestigious events of the year. The Matrix Awards are given by New York Women in Communications to honour females who change the world.

Marconi Prize

Arogyaswami Joseph Paulraj, the Indian born Scientist and Professor (Emeritus) at Stanford University on 21 January 2014 was awarded with prestigious 2014 Marconi Society Prize. He was awarded for developing
the theory and application of MIMO (Multiple Input Multiple Output) antennas. His discovery of use of multiple antennas at both the receiving and transmitting end has helped in revolutionizing the speed of wireless delivery in the world of multimedia services. The technology at present is being used in high speed WiFi and 4G mobile systems. Almost every Wifi router and 4G phone uses MIMO technology that was pioneered by Pulraj.

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