Thiruvananthapuram: In what could put a strain on the Center-State ties, it has emerged that all three Keralites who were conferred Padma Shri awards were not recommended by the Kerala government.
The state government had given the names of 42 distinguished personalities to the Center for Padma awards - 35 names for Padma Shri, 6 for Padma Bhushan and 1 Padma Vibhushan. Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the 101-year-old metropolitan bishop of the Marthoma Syrian Church, was the only person recommended by the state to get Padma Bhushan. This information was revealed in an RTI reply received by social activist Jomon Puthenpurackal.
The Center awarded Padma Vibhushan to P Parameswaran, while Padma Shri was given to Dr M R Rajagopal and Lakshmikutty, a traditional medicine practitioner.
Parameswaran is the only Keralite to get Padma Vibhushan, the second highest honor after Bharat Ratna. Noted writer M T Vasudevan Nair was the state's choice for the honor. Overstepping the state's recommendation, the Center bestowed the honor on the RSS ideologue.
The state's recommendation for Padma Bhushan awards were actors Mammootty and Mohanlal, Kathakali exponent Kalamandalam Gopi, chenda artiste Peruvanam Kuttan Marar, poet Sugathakumari, and Mar Chrysostom. Of this list, the Center only picked Mar Chrysostom.
The state had given 35 names to the Center for Padma Shri, all of which were disregarded.
The list of 42 personalities were submitted by a special committee headed by culture minister A K Balan.
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