Nagpur: Padma Shri awardees from the region will be honoured by Nagpur University (NU) at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Memorial Hall in Civil Lines on Sunday. Shankar Baba Papalkar, Dr Ravindra and Dr Smita Kolhe, Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, Namdevrao Kamble, Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo, Dr Parshuram Khune, Dr Vilas Dangre, Satyanarayan Nuwal and Janardanpant Bothe are the Padma awardees to be honoured by NU.Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis will be the chief guest, while former Chief Justice of India Bhushan Gavai will grace the occasion as the guest of honour. NU vice-chancellor Dr Manali Kshirsagar will preside over the function. Pro-vice-chancellor Dr Akhilesh Peshwe, senate member Manmohan Bajpai, who is felicitation committee chairman, will be present. Shankar Baba Papalkar, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024, has devoted his life to rehabilitating abandoned and differently abled children through the Late Ambadaspant Vaidya Divyang and Destitute Children’s Home at Wazzar in Achalpur taluka of Amravati district. Padma Shri awardees Dr Ravindra and Dr Smita Kolhe, both graduates of Govt Medical College, Nagpur, chose to serve the remote tribal region of Bairagad in Melghat instead of pursuing lucrative medical careers. Renowned Nagpur neurologist Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram was honoured with Padma Shri in 2024 for his contributions to neurology, medical education, research, and social initiatives.Writer, journalist and teacher Namdevrao Kamble received Padma Shri in 2021 for highlighting struggles of marginalised communities. Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo was awarded Padma Shri in 2021 for over 4 decades of service to tribal communities in Wayanad, Keralam.
