{"id":79,"date":"2021-11-05T08:50:00","date_gmt":"2021-11-05T08:50:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/?p=79"},"modified":"2021-11-18T08:50:40","modified_gmt":"2021-11-18T08:50:40","slug":"peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/","title":{"rendered":"People\u2019s Padma: 10 Exceptional Winners Driven By Compassion"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_65 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >Table of Contents<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><a href=\"#\" class=\"ez-toc-pull-right ez-toc-btn ez-toc-btn-xs ez-toc-btn-default ez-toc-toggle\" aria-label=\"Toggle Table of Content\"><span class=\"ez-toc-js-icon-con\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #222222;color:#222222\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/span><\/a><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#harekala-hajabba-the-orange-selling-educator\" title=\"Harekala Hajabba: The Orange-selling Educator\">Harekala Hajabba: The Orange-selling Educator<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#chhultim-chhonjor-the-mountain-man\" title=\"Chhultim Chhonjor: The Mountain Man\">Chhultim Chhonjor: The Mountain Man<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#prakash-kaur-mother-to-abandoned-girls\" title=\"Prakash Kaur: Mother to Abandoned Girls\">Prakash Kaur: Mother to Abandoned Girls<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#mohammad-shareef-the-last-rites-samaritan\" title=\"Mohammad Shareef: The Last Rites Samaritan\">Mohammad Shareef: The Last Rites Samaritan<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#jagdish-lal-ahuja-the-%e2%80%98langar-baba\" title=\"Jagdish Lal Ahuja: The \u2018Langar Baba\u2019\">Jagdish Lal Ahuja: The \u2018Langar Baba\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#tulsi-gowda-the-forester\" title=\"Tulsi Gowda: The Forester\">Tulsi Gowda: The Forester<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#sundaram-verma-growing-forests-in-arid-land\" title=\"Sundaram Verma: Growing Forests in Arid Land\">Sundaram Verma: Growing Forests in Arid Land<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#dr-sushovan-banerjee-the-%e2%80%98one-rupee-doctor\" title=\"Dr Sushovan Banerjee: The \u2018One Rupee Doctor\u2019\">Dr Sushovan Banerjee: The \u2018One Rupee Doctor\u2019<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#krishnammal-jagannatha-provider-of-land-to-the-landless\" title=\"Krishnammal Jagannatha: Provider of Land to the landless\">Krishnammal Jagannatha: Provider of Land to the landless<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/#birubala-rabha-hunts-the-witch-hunters\" title=\"Birubala Rabha: Hunts the Witch-hunters\">Birubala Rabha: Hunts the Witch-hunters<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n\n<p>AFTER the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in India. Over the years, exceptional people have been nominated for their distinguished service in various fields of activity and service.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of high order) and Padma Shri (distinguished service). The nomination for Padma Awards is open to the public and self-nomination is also accepted.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Of late, several \u2018unsung heroes\u2019 have been conferred with the Padma Awards. Some of these are not even aware that these awards exist! The President of India, Ram Nath Kovind, recently conferred the Padma Awards for 2020 and 2021 to the winners at an impressive ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Here, we look at some awardees who have been doing social work for decades, expecting nothing in return.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"harekala-hajabba-the-orange-selling-educator\"><\/span>Harekala Hajabba: The Orange-selling Educator<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/harekala-hajabba-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Harekala Hajabba: The Orange-selling Educator\" class=\"wp-image-82\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/harekala-hajabba-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/harekala-hajabba-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/harekala-hajabba-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/harekala-hajabba.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>It all started with a foreign tourist couple asking Harekala Hajabba of Mangalore, the price of the oranges he was selling in English. As he could not understand them, he felt embarrassed at his lack of education. This made him take a decision to build a school so nobody faced such embarrassment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>It took a few years for him to save the money from his meagre income, but he finally did build a school at his village Newpadpu, around 40 kilometres south of Mangalore. Hundreds of children receive free education in Hajabba\u2019s school. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"chhultim-chhonjor-the-mountain-man\"><\/span>Chhultim Chhonjor: The Mountain Man<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/chhultim-chhonjor-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Chhultim Chhonjor: The Mountain Man\" class=\"wp-image-84\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/chhultim-chhonjor-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/chhultim-chhonjor-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/chhultim-chhonjor-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/chhultim-chhonjor.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Social activist Chhultim Chhonjor received the fourth highest civilian award, Padma Shri, for single-handedly constructing a 38-km stretch of road from Ramjak to Kargyak village in Ladakh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>As travel between his remote village Ramjak and other places with better medical and facilities had become very difficult because of the terrain, Chhonjor decided to do something about it. He bought a heavy construction vehicle to build the road with the money he had saved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"prakash-kaur-mother-to-abandoned-girls\"><\/span>Prakash Kaur: Mother to Abandoned Girls<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/prakash-kaur-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Prakash Kaur: Mother to Abandoned Girls\" class=\"wp-image-86\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/prakash-kaur-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/prakash-kaur-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/prakash-kaur-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/prakash-kaur.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Prakash Kaur was abandoned by her parents in Jalandhar soon after being born and was raised in a Nari Niketan. She was just 24 when she started the \u2018Unique Home\u2019 from a single room in Jalandhar. Today, she takes care of hundreds of abandoned girls who are given housing, food and care. Many girls raised by Prakash Kaur have gone on to do well in life.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"mohammad-shareef-the-last-rites-samaritan\"><\/span>Mohammad Shareef: The Last Rites Samaritan<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mohammed-Shareef-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Mohammad Shareef: The Last Rites Samaritan\" class=\"wp-image-87\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mohammed-Shareef-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mohammed-Shareef-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mohammed-Shareef-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/Mohammed-Shareef.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Mohammad Shareef is a bicycle mechanic by profession, but he is well-known for performing the last rites of thousands of unclaimed dead bodies for more than 25 years. \u2018Shareef Chacha\u2019, as he is called in Ayodhya, is said to have performed last rites on over 25,000 unclaimed bodies, according to the religious customs of the dead person.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to Shareef, he took to social service in 1992 after a horrific incident in which his son Raees was murdered during communal tensions. Shareef is over 80 and he is a Padma Shri awardee.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"jagdish-lal-ahuja-the-%e2%80%98langar-baba\"><\/span>Jagdish Lal Ahuja: The \u2018Langar Baba\u2019<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jagdish-lal-ahuja-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Jagdish Lal Ahuja: The \u2018Langar Baba\u2019\" class=\"wp-image-89\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jagdish-lal-ahuja-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jagdish-lal-ahuja-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jagdish-lal-ahuja-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/jagdish-lal-ahuja.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Born in Peshawar in Pakistan, Jagdish Lal Ahuja, crossed over to India after Partition in 1947. He was just 12 years old at that time. But he built his life and did well in business.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>On his son\u2019s eighth birthday, he organised a \u2018langar,\u2019 or free kitchen for street children. That changed his life. He saw the joy on the children\u2019s faces and he decided to organise a langar every day. And he has been doing it for decades. Called the \u2018Langar Baba\u2019 in Chandigarh, he has been awarded the Padma Shri.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"tulsi-gowda-the-forester\"><\/span>Tulsi Gowda: The Forester<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tulsi-gowda-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Tulsi Gowda: The Forester\" class=\"wp-image-90\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tulsi-gowda-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tulsi-gowda-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tulsi-gowda-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/tulsi-gowda.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>84-year-old Tulsi Gowda used to work with Karnataka forest department\u2019s nursery in Honnalli village in the state\u2019s Uttar Kannada district and has planted hundreds of thousands of trees, including many that her tribal community Halakki Vokkalu considered important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This barefoot ecologist continues to work even after retirement from the department. Tulsi has helped to regenerate many trees that were on the verge of extinction. She is called the \u201cencyclopaedia of forest\u201d because of her intimate knowledge of the trees and her community calls her \u201cvruksha devata\u201d (the goddess of trees). The country conferred Padma Shri for her tireless efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"sundaram-verma-growing-forests-in-arid-land\"><\/span>Sundaram Verma: Growing Forests in Arid Land<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sundaram-verma-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Sundaram Verma: Growing Forests in Arid Land\" class=\"wp-image-91\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sundaram-verma-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sundaram-verma-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sundaram-verma-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/sundaram-verma.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>A native of Sikar district in Rajasthan, Sundaram Verma has been on a unique mission to grow forests in the most dry, arid regions of the state and inspiring others to do the same. He has been using the \u2018dryland agroforestry\u2019 method that requires only one litre of water during its growing phase.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A science graduate, he spurned job offers to fine-tune his growing techniques in his farmland and inspire other farmers to do the same. Verma has planted more than 50,000 trees so far and his method of growing trees has been adapted by many around the country. He was awarded the Padma Shri for his work.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"dr-sushovan-banerjee-the-%e2%80%98one-rupee-doctor\"><\/span>Dr Sushovan Banerjee: The \u2018One Rupee Doctor\u2019<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dr-sushovan-banerjee-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Dr Sushovan Banerjee: The \u2018One Rupee Doctor\u2019\" class=\"wp-image-95\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dr-sushovan-banerjee-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dr-sushovan-banerjee-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dr-sushovan-banerjee-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/dr-sushovan-banerjee.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>He is in his eighties, but Dr Sushovan Banerjee continues to attend patients and he has been charging the same amount for decades\u2014one rupee. Banerjee is better known as Ek Takar Daktar\u2019 (One Rupee Doctor) in Bolpur, West Bengal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to some estimates, he has treated more than 2 million patients in almost six decades. Banerjee, the Padma Shri awardee for 2020, has found his way into the Guinness World Records to treat the maximum number of patients in his lifetime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"krishnammal-jagannatha-provider-of-land-to-the-landless\"><\/span>Krishnammal Jagannatha: Provider of Land to the landless<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/krishnammal-jagannatha-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Krishnammal Jagannatha: Provider of Land to the landless\" class=\"wp-image-96\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/krishnammal-jagannatha-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/krishnammal-jagannatha-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/krishnammal-jagannatha-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/krishnammal-jagannatha.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>Krishnammal and her husband Sankaralingam Jagannathan founded Land for Tillers\u2019 Freedom (LAFTI) in 1981. The NGO has been working with the marginalised and uplifting their lives by buying them land or through redistribution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>According to some estimates, the couple\u2019s efforts resulted in a redistribution of over 32,000 acres to landless Dalits in the state of Bihar alone. LAFTI now constructs houses, distributes domestic animals and provides education and skills training. Although her husband died in 2013, Krishnammal, who has been awarded the Padma Bhushan, continues to work among the marginalised.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"birubala-rabha-hunts-the-witch-hunters\"><\/span>Birubala Rabha: Hunts the Witch-hunters<span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" src=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/birobala-rabha-1024x683.jpg\" alt=\"Birubala Rabha: Hunts the Witch-hunters\" class=\"wp-image-97\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/birobala-rabha-1024x683.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/birobala-rabha-300x200.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/birobala-rabha-768x512.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/11\/birobala-rabha.jpg 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<div style=\"height:10px\" aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-spacer\"><\/div>\n\n\n\n<p>The state of Assam was compelled to pass a law called Witch Hunting (Prohibition, Protection and Prevention) Act thanks to efforts of Birubala Rabha. She has been waging a lonely battle against the widespread evil of branding women as \u2018daini\u2019 or witch and, more often than not, lynching them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The 72-year-old has saved hundreds of women from the jaws of death by blood-thirsty mobs. She has faced threats to her life and was even branded a witch herself, but she remains unfazed. Birubala has been working in the field and talking against the superstition of witchcraft. Although she stays in the Goalpara district of Assam, she travels extensively with her message. She has been awarded the Padma Shri for her efforts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>With a simple on boarding process and 0% platform fees, your free fundraiser will create impact and touch lives. <a href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\">Start a fundraiser for free today<\/a> and begin your journey of making a difference and impacting lives.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>AFTER the Bharat Ratna, the Padma Awards are among the highest civilian honours in India. Over the years, exceptional people have been nominated for their distinguished service in various fields of activity and service. The Padma Awards are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day. They are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":80,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-79","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-volunteering"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v22.5 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>People\u2019s Padma: 10 Exceptional Winners Driven By Compassion<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Here, we look at some awardees who have been doing social work for decades, expecting nothing in return. Read blog to know more.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.socialforaction.com\/blog\/peoples-padma-exceptional-winners-driven-by-compassion\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"People\u2019s Padma: 10 Exceptional Winners Driven By Compassion\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Here, we look at some awardees who have been doing social work for decades, expecting nothing in return. 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