Srinagar Jan 25: Social worker Brij Lal Bhat and author Shafi Shauq from Jammu and Kashmir will receive the prestigious Padma Shri award, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor, on Republic Day, January 26.
The Centre has announced these awards recognizing their exceptional contributions to social service and Kashmiri literature respectively, as part of 45 ‘unsung heroes’ selected for Padma Shri 2026.
Brij Lal Bhat earns acclaim for his dedicated social work in the region, while Shafi Shauq receives national honor for a lifetime devoted to preserving and promoting Kashmiri literature.
This dual recognition highlights Jammu and Kashmir’s cultural and humanitarian impact, placing both alongside notable figures like former bus conductor Anke Gowda and paediatrician Armida Fernandes from the broader Padma list.
The formal presentation will occur during Republic Day celebrations, celebrating grassroots changemakers across India.
