Bengaluru: It is a proud moment for the state which has struck it rich with this year’s Padma awardees list including seven personalities from the state. It may be noted here that from 2009-2014 only 10 people out of the 138 recommended by the Karnataka government were chosen for the Padma awards.

Among those chosen for the prestigious award include former ISRO chairman, Udupi Ramachandra Rao who will be honored with the Padma Vibhushan award for his contribution in the field of science. He is also the first Indian to be inducted in the Satellite Hall of Fame, Washington, in 2013.

The Padma Shri awardees include Kannada film actor, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan, lexicographer G. Venkatasubbiah, Girish Bhardwaj who has built numerous low-cost bridges for deprived communities, cricketer Shekar Naik, Gold medalist Vikasa Gowda, 75-year-old Sukri Bommagowda a popular folk singer. However no one from the state figures in the list of Padma Bhushan winners

Veteran Kannada film actor, Bharathi Vishnuvardhan has performed in Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Tamil, Marathi, Telugu and Tulu films and was mostly seen as a leading actress in the Kannada film industry during the late 1960s to 1980s.

Girish Bhardwaj, hailing from Sullia taluk in Dakshina Kannada, also popularly known as Bridgeman is being honored for his prowess in building suspension bridges that connect isolated villages. An elated Girish says that while the recognition is great, the credit goes not only to him but his entire team.

Veteran centenarian lexicographer and?writer Prof G Venkatasubbaiah, a native of Ganjam (near Srirangapatna, Mandya district) is known for his column ‘Igo Kannada’ published in Prajavani Kannada daily.

Sukri Bommagowda is the nightingale of the Halakki Vokkaliga tribes and an indigenous folk singer.

In the sports category, ace discus thrower Vikas Gowda, the reigning Commonwealth Games and Asian Championship winner and captain of Indian Blind Cricket team Shekhar Naik have been chosen for the honour.