Anke Gowda, a former bus conductor gets Padma Shri for setting up the world's largest free-access library

Poll-bound states of West Bengal and Tamil Nadu were among the highest to be conferred with unsung and unique Padma Awardees announced by the Union home ministry on the eve of Republic Day 2026. West Bengal was given 6 awards while Tamil Nadu was conferred with 5. Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra were given 4 awards each. The UT of Jammu and Kashmir was honoured with two awards with a total number of 45 "unsung heroes" across states and UTs, said official sources.

Among others who were conferred with the awards were a former bus conductor, Anke Gowda set up the world's largest free-access library, 'Pustak Mane', comprising more than two million books in 20 languages along with rare manuscripts. Also named were Armida Fernandes, the Mumbai-based paediatrician who set up Asia's first human milk bank, improving the survival prospects of infants, Bundeli war art trainer Bhagwandas Raikwar from Madhya Pradesh, Bhiklya Ladakya Dhinda, a 90-year old tribal Tarpa player from Maharashtra, and distinguished social worker from Jammu and Kashmir, Brij Lal Bhat.