AP: Surgeon Adinarayana, Orator Narasimha Rao & temple Vidhwan Hassan Saheb conferred Padma Shri

Three from Andhra Pradesh have been conferred Padma Shri awards under various categories.

Senior and well-known Orthopaedic surgeon Dr. Sunkara Venkata Adinarayana Rao has been conferred Padma Shri for his four-decade-long contribution in the field of medicine.

What makes him stand apart from the rest is his unconditional medical support to the poor and needy. The Padma Shri awardee holds a master's degree in Orthopaedic from Andhra Medical College in Visakhapatnam. While he was first recognised for his work in 1988, Rao was awarded the National Award by the Prime Minister of India for his welfare works for the disabled. He is also a recipient of the Madras Telugu Academy Award and the National Award of the Mahaveer Foundation. In 2014, he received the National Award for Child Welfare from the President of India. Hailing from Bhimavaram in West Godavari District, Rao is married to R Sashiprabha, a noted gynecologist in Visakhapatnam.

Second, on the list is noted orator -Narsimha Rao Garikapati in the field of Literature & Education. Often seen on Television, Mr. Rao is a Telugu Avadhani (literary performer) who hails East Godavari, Annvaram in Andhra Pradesh.

One cannot miss complimenting his abilities to spin out versus conforming to Telugu grammar.

It all began in 1996 when he performed Avadhanam with 1116 Pruchchakas or Pricchakas for 21 days in Kakinada. He holds a record of conducting more than 288 avadhanams, including Dvigunita Avadhanam at Dallas for the American Telugu Association in 2002. He is an ardent follower of Hindusim and delivers lectures on the way of life.

Third, on the list of three Padma Shri awardees from Andhra Pradesh is Gosaveedu Sheik Hassan Saheb, a former disciple of Sheik Chinna Moulana, who has served as the resident vidwan of Badracharam Sitarama Temple for about 45 years. He is has been conferred Padma Shri (posthumously).

Sheikh Hasan Saheb, a renowned nadaswaram vidwan from Tiruvuru was born in 1930 in Gosaveedu in Gampalagudem Mandal in Krishna District. Trained in music at Chinna Moula Saheb in Chilakaluripet, he worked as a Nilayam Vidwan in the Badrachalam and Yadagiri Gutta temples. He also did programs in All India Radio, Hyderabad. In addition to training many students in music, he has performed at the Thyagaraja Swamy Aaradhana Festival, Tiruvuru for the past 67 years. He was awarded Thyagaraja Puraskar Award in 2007. Hasan Saheb died on 24 June 2021.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy congratulated all the Telugu people who were nominated for the Padma Awards 2022 for the efforts in their respective fields.

It is pertinent to note that none from Andhra Pradesh featured in the list of Padma Vibhushan or Padma Bhushan.