Bhopal (Madhya Pradesh): Five personalities from Madhya Pradesh have been feted with Padma Shri Awards 2025, announced late on Saturday evening.
They include devotional folk singer Bheru Singh Chouhan, novelist Jagdish Joshila, social entrepreneur Sally Holkar, Budhendra Kumar Jain Medical Superintendent, Sadguru Netra Chikitsalaya, Shri Sadguru Seva Sangh Trust, Jankikund, Chitrakoot, District Satna, Madhya Pradesh and Harchandan Singh Bhatti artist from Bhopal. 64-year-old Chauhan, who is known as Nirgun Bhakti Ke Bheru from Malwa has been upholding oral traditions of folk for 50 years.
Harchandan Singh Bhatty
Born in 1959 in Dehradun (now in Uttarakhand), Harchandan Singh Bhatty graduated in painting from the Fine Arts College, Indore. He has been associated with Bharat Bhawan, Bhopal since its founding and has been working for the institution for the past 40 years. He is former director of the Bharat Bhawan. He studied the life of Tribal people of Madhya Pradesh under the guidance of legendary painter J Swaminathan. He was the art curator for the Madhya Pradesh Tribal Museum. He has been awarded with the Rashrtiya Kalidas Samman by Madhya Pradesh Government.
Dr BK Jain
Chouhan told Free Press over phone that the award not only goes to me but all of us including our village, tehsil, state and country. ‘I got the news through media. I don’t know much about the award. I focus on my work as Lord Krishna said in Gita that ‘Karm Kiye Ja, Phal apne aap mil jayega…,’ 75-year-old Joshila who is known as Nimadi ke Novelist from Khargone of over 5 decades founded Nimadi prose literature and pioneered as the first Nimadi novelist through notable works such as ‘Bhalai Ki Jad Patthal Mein’ and ‘Gaanv Ki Pehchaan’.
The 82-year-old social entrepreneur Sally who is known as Holkar Weaver of Hope from Khargone, who devoted over five decades to revitalise the 300-year-old Maheshwari handloom industry, inspired by Rani Ahilyabai Holkar’s legacy.
Born in the US, she transformed the once-dying Maheshwari craft into a flourishing, globally-acclaimed art form – including seamlessly blending tradition with modern design.
A staunch advocate for women’s empowerment she employed 250-women weavers, installed 110+ looms and established 45+ houses, a school up to class 8 and a creche for her employees. Her initiatives trained women in craft skills, creating sustainable livelihoods, while sponsoring education of 240- youngsters through Ahilyabai Jyoti School, including work-study opportunities for women and children.
