Padma awards, the highest civilian honours in the country have now truly become comparatively more democratic. And now we all will see ordinary people doing extraordinary deeds and getting observed and finding a place in the list of Padma awardees!.

We can say that either a new system has been put in place, or the existing system has been reinvented wherein everyone has an equal opportunity to propose anyone for this prestigious award. Until now, the nation had probably not been able to discover all the real hidden hero(es/ines) yet. Now, with this change, moving forward these awards will become more and more accessible as well as inclusive.

The award process appears to have been democratized, with the active participation of the masses. Now, nominations can be made by anyone for all these awards - Padma awards, Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri. The differentiator now is that many people with low advertising and marketing capabilities about their achievements are being nominated.

Consider a few examples: Swami Sivananda is a 125 year old yog guru who practises and teaches yoga at the ghats in Kashi.Onarch 21 ,2022 he became the oldest person to receive Padma Shri.Clad in white dhoti kurta ,Sivananda started walking on the ramp towards President Kovind but stopped midway and knelt infront of PM Modi.The Prime Minister returned his gesture twice.Everyone praised his humble gesture.

Tulsi Gowda walked barefoot amidst thunderous applause at the Award Ceremony in Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Haerakala Hajabba, a fruit seller, built a school for the underprivileged children with his meagre earnings.

Mohammed Sharif, 83, a bicycle mechanic performed the last rites of over 25,000 unclaimed bodies over the past 30 years - all such inspiring persons.

Critics and citizens might have varying opinions about the different decisions made by the existing government, but no one can point fingers for bringing the common man on to the centre stage of the nation’s highest civilian honours. A big round of applause to Modiji for this change.

Comparisons would definitely be made between the current and previous set of Padma awardees and critics may claim a dilution of the stature of the civilian awards. But considering general perception, this is a clear winner.

Many have the opinion that while people living in metros and state capitals had greater access to the power elite, and hence many deserving candidates did not even stand a chance.

Now, with the government calling for nominations, things have become different. Nominations thus received go through a scrutiny process and those shortlisted, are further reviewed by the government bodies for recommendations.

The Padma awards have had their share of controversies due to which public perceptions were built that they are given not as per merit, but as per the influence one has with the authorities. It was perceived that the deserving candidates were missed out because of this.

By making the awards accessible to all those who are deserving is definitely a step in the right direction. This will open up Pandora’s box and encourage the unsung heroes to receive the recognition that they truly deserve. Hail to the new regime for taking another step towards making our country a better to place to live.