Padma Shri for Dhoni, Bhajji, Aishwarya and Akshay

New Delhi: Among the 93 persons chosen for Padma Shri are Team India captain M S Dhoni, spinner Harbhajan Singh, singer Udit narayan Bollywood actors Aishwarya Rai Bachchan and Akshay Kumar, world billiards champion Pankaj Advani and R K Krishna Kumar of the Taj group of Hotels and veteran broadcaster Ameen Sayani .

Shooter Abhinav Bindra, Information Technology and National Knowledge Commission Chairman Sam Pitroda, economist Isher Judge Ahulwalia and noted journalist and Editor-in-Chief of Indian Express Shekhar Gupta are among the 30 eminent personalities awarded Padma Bhushan.

Padma Vibhushan awardees

Five industrialists selected for this year's Padma awards, including one for the country's second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan, come from businesses ranging from engineering, technology and hospitality to textiles.

Ashok S Ganguly (Padma Vibhushan) is a member of the PM's Council on Trade and Industry as well as Investment Commission, India-USA CEO Council and the National Knowledge Commission to the Prime Minister.

Besides, he is the Chairman of FirstSource Solutions Ltd and ABP Private Ltd (Ananda Bazar Patrika Group) and has been a Director on the Central Board of Reserve Bank of India, since November 2000. He also serves as a non-executive director of Wipro, Mahindra & Mahindra, ICICI Knowledge Park and Tata AIG Life Insurance Co Ltd and a Director on the Advisory Board of Microsoft Corporation (India) Pvt Ltd and Hemogenomics Private Ltd.

Anil Manibhai Naik (Padma Bhushan) A M Naik is the Chairman and Managing Director of Larsen & Toubro, one of the largest conglomerates in India. He joined L&T in 1965 as a junior engineer and soon became the youngest manager in Larsen & Toubro history. Son of a teacher, he took over as CEO and MD in April 1999 and was appointed as the Chairman and Managing Director in April 1999.

He is also an Honorary Consul General for Denmark, Senior member of the Confederation of Indian Industry, member of the Board of Trade, Ministry of Commerce, and on the Board of Governors of the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad.

Source: PTI

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