"It's a new beginning for me": Bengali folk singer Ratan Kahar on Padma Shri award

Birbhum (West Bengal) [India], January 26 (ANI): Bengali folk singer Ratan Kahar, who has been conferred Padma Shri is extremely happy to have been bestowed with the country's highest civilian honour, which he said has enthused him to write more songs.
Talking to ANI, Kahar said, "I am feeling elated for having been chosen for the Padma Shri award. I am also happy that I can not explain it in words. I think I have got a new life after receiving this news."
"Many have stolen my songs, and to many I voluntarily gave. Now, I have got fresh energy to write more songs" Kahar said.
Kahar became widely known after rapper Badshah used lyrics of his composition 'Boro Loker Biti Lo' in a 2020 Hindi pop song featuring actress Jacqueline Fernandez.
There are 132 names on the list of Padma Awardees this year, including two duo cases (in a duo case, the award is counted as one), as per the list below. The list comprises five Padma Vibhushan, 17 Padma Bhushan, and 110 Padma Shri Awards.
Thirty of the awardees are women, and the list also includes eight persons from categories of foreign non-resident Indian (NRI), person of Indian origin (PIO), overseas citizenship of India (OCI), and nine posthumous awardees.
The Padma Awards, which were instituted in 1954, are one of the highest civilian honours of India and are announced annually on the eve of Republic Day.
The awards are given in three categories: Padma Vibhushan (for exceptional and distinguished service), Padma Bhushan (distinguished service of higher order), and Padma Shri (distinguished service).
The award seeks to recognise achievements in all fields of activities or disciplines where an element of public service is involved.
The Padma Awards are conferred on the recommendations by the Padma Awards Committee, which is constituted by the Prime Minister every year.
The Awards Committee is headed by Cabinet Secretary and includes the Home Secretary, Secretary to the President and four to six eminent persons as members. The recommendations of the committee are submitted to the Prime Minister and the President of India for approval.
Last year, the government announced 106 Padma Awards, including three duo cases. The list then comprised six Padma Vibhushans, nine Padma Bhushans, and 91 Padma Shri Awards.
Nineteen of the awardees were women, and the list also included two persons from the category of foreigners: NRI, PIO, OCI, and seven posthumous awardees. (ANI)