Ayush Ministry Felicitates Padma Awardees-2023 for their Immense Contributions to AYUSH

Dr. Manoranjan Sahu (Padma Shri), prominent Ayurveda practitioner and surgeon, and Dr. Gopalsamy Veluchamy (Padma Shri), senior Siddha practitioner, for their contributions to the popularisation of Ayurvedic methods.

Minister of Ayush Sarbananda Sonowal presented citation plaques to all three Padma Awardees. P. K. Pathak, Special Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Rahul Sharma, Joint Secretary, Ministry of Ayush, Vaidya Manoj Nesari, Advisor (Ay), Ministry of Ayush, and other officials and dignitaries were present on the occasion.

Sarbananda Sonowal hailed the Padma Awardees, saying that their achievements are an inspiration to all of us, and their unshakable commitment to excellence serves as a shining example to the entire nation. He stated that these awards are a symbol of greatness, and it is a source of great pleasure for the nation to recognise individuals who have made significant contributions to our society by their unwavering hard work and dedication.

Kamlesh Patel has received the Padma Bhushan award. He is a well-known social worker who has worked tirelessly for almost four decades to provide education, healthcare, and employment opportunities to India's neglected people. He has provided free access to meditation in over 160 countries and produced value-based development programmes for students and faculty in over 5,000 schools, universities, and educational institutions through his heartfulness movement.

Dr. Manoranjan Sahu has been awarded the Padma Shri for his contributions to medicine and is an Ayurveda surgeon with nearly 40 years of expertise. Former Dean of the Ayurveda Faculty at IMS Varanasi and Director of the AIIA in New Delhi, he is well-known for his contributions to the field of Shalya Tantra (Ayurveda). He has selflessly treated the underprivileged and vulnerable members of society at a low cost.

Dr. Gopalsamy Veluchamy, who was awarded the Padma Shri, served as the Chairperson of the Scientific Advisory Board of the Central Council for Research in Siddha, the Ministry of Ayush's highest organisation for Siddha research, from 2018 to 2021. He is currently the honorary chairman of Chennai's Siddha Pharmacopoeia Committee. Dr. Veluchamy was among the first to propose 'kabasurakudineer' as a possible COVID-19 treatment.

Vaidya Rajesh Kotecha, secretary, Ministry of Ayush, congratulated the Padma Awardees and wished them well in the future. President Droupadi Murmu bestowed the Padma Awards for 2023 during a Civil Investiture Ceremony today at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

(Author- Shivam Dwivedi)