Heroes in Art (page 5)

Kamalini Asthana and Nalini Asthana

Kathak dancers of the Banaras gharana, sisters who have performed and taught together for five decades, jointly honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Uttar Pradesh

Kanaka Raju

A Gond master of the Gussadi dance from Marlavai who trained hundreds of young Adivasis for four decades, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Telangana

Kapil Dev Prasad

A Nalanda weaver who kept the bawan buti handloom style alive, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. He died in 2024.

Padma Shri 2023
Bihar

Kartar Paras Ram Singh

A retired pharmacist from Hamirpur who builds bamboo models of historic buildings, some inside glass bottles, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Himachal Pradesh

Kartar Singh

A Ludhiana master of Gurmat Sangeet who composed over 1,400 shabads in ragas and trained kirtan singers, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Punjab

Khalil Ahamad

A Mirzapur master weaver known as the "carpet man" who has trained thousands of young artisans, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Uttar Pradesh

Khandu Wangchuk Bhutia

A Sikkim thangka painter who has painted monastery murals and taught about 350 poor children free since 1982, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Sikkim

Khem Raj Sundriyal

A Panipat master weaver who joined the Weavers' Service Centre in 1967 and has trained over 10,000 weavers and students, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Padma Shri 2026
Haryana

Kiran Nadar

Founder of the Kiran Nadar Museum of Art in Delhi and an international bridge player, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Delhi

Konsam Ibomcha Singh

A Manipur doll and toy maker, son of national award-winning craftspeople, who has trained others in the traditional craft, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Manipur

Kota Satchidananda Sastry

A Harikatha storyteller from Andhra Pradesh who has performed since 1946, giving over 15,000 shows, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Andhra Pradesh

Krishna Patel

A Sambalpuri folk singer whose duet 'Rangabati' became one of Odisha's best-loved songs, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Odisha

Krishnan Nair Shantakumari Chithra

The playback singer K. S. Chithra, who has sung some 15,000 songs in 15 languages and won the National Award six times, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2021.

Padma Bhushan 2021
Kerala

Kumar Bose

A tabla player of the Banaras gharana, son of Biswanath Bose and disciple of Kishan Maharaj, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

Padma Shri 2026
West Bengal

Kumudini Lakhia

A Kathak pioneer who founded Ahmedabad's Kadamb dance centre and reshaped Kathak over 75 years, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2025.

Padma Vibhushan 2025
Gujarat

L. Subramaniam

A violin maestro of Carnatic music who pioneered global fusion and has played with the world's great orchestras, honoured with the Padma Vibhushan in 2025.

Padma Vibhushan 2025
Karnataka

Lajwanti

A Patiala artisan who has promoted phulkari embroidery for four decades and trained hundreds of women in it, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Punjab

Lakha Khan

A Manganiyar master of the 27-string Sindhi sarangi from Jodhpur district who has toured the world for five decades, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

Padma Shri 2021
Rajasthan

Lalita Vakil

A Chamba embroiderer who has helped revive the double-sided Chamba rumal and trained thousands of women in it, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Himachal Pradesh

Lavjibhai Nagjibhai Parmar

A master weaver who kept Gujarat's 700-year-old Tangaliya weaving alive when hundreds of weavers had quit, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

Padma Shri 2025
Gujarat

Laxman Bhatt Tailang

A Jaipur dhrupad singer, composer and teacher who devoted his life to the old classical form, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024. He died in February 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Rajasthan

Lourembam Bino Devi

The senior-most master of leeba, Manipur's appliqué craft, who has trained women for over five decades, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

Padma Shri 2022
Manipur

M M Keeravaani

The film composer behind Baahubali and RRR, whose song 'Naatu Naatu' won the Golden Globe and the Oscar, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.

Padma Shri 2023
Andhra Pradesh

M. Badrappan

A Tamil Nadu folk-dance teacher who has spent five decades performing and teaching Valli Oyil Kummi, including to girls, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

Padma Shri 2024
Tamil Nadu