IndianGaurav

Heroes from Punjab

People from the state of Punjab whose work we have profiled.

Showing 1–18 of 18 heroes

BI

Baba Iqbal Singh Ji

A former agriculture director who built 129 rural schools and two universities from a hut with five pupils, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Punjab
BS

Baldev Singh

The hockey coach who built Shahbad Markanda into a nursery of international players and led India to the 2004 Asia Cup, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Punjab
BH

Bhai Harjinder Singh (Srinagar Wale)

A Gurbani kirtan singer who revived old ragas and has sung at the Golden Temple since 1986, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Punjab
Gurmeet Bawa speaking at Punjabi University, Patiala, 2012

Gurmeet Bawa

A Punjabi folk singer famed for her long, breathless 'lambi hek' and five decades on stage, honoured posthumously with the Padma Bhushan in 2022.

  • Padma Bhushan 2022 (posthumous)
  • Punjab
Harmanpreet Kaur receiving the Arjuna Award from President Ram Nath Kovind in 2017

Harmanpreet Kaur

The captain of India's women's cricket team, known for aggressive batting and match-winning innings, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Punjab
HS

Harmohinder Singh Bedi

A Hindi scholar and poet from Punjab who has traced Hindi writing in the Gurmukhi script, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Punjab
KS

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
L

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
Portrait of Nirmal Rishi

Nirmal Rishi

A Punjabi actress of stage and screen for six decades, loved as Gulabo Massi in Long Da Lishkara, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Punjab
President Droupadi Murmu presenting the Padma Shri to Onkar Singh Pahwa at Rashtrapati Bhavan

Onkar Singh Pahwa

The chairman of Ludhiana-based Avon Cycles, which he helped make a top Indian bicycle brand sold in 80 countries, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2025
  • Punjab
PK

Prakash Kaur

A Jalandhar woman who has run Unique Home for abandoned girls since 1993 and raised more than 70 of them as their mother, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Punjab
Portrait of Pran Sabharwal

Pran Sabharwal

A Patiala actor and theatre organiser who has led the National Theatre Arts Society since 1953, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.

  • Padma Shri 2024
  • Punjab
PS

Prem Singh

A retired official from Ropar who sold his own house to build homes for people affected by leprosy, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.

  • Padma Shri 2022
  • Punjab
RS

Rajinder Singh (Senior)

A 1980 Olympic hockey gold medallist and Dronacharya awardee who now finds and trains young hockey players in Punjab's villages.

  • Mann Ki Baat #138
  • Punjab
RB

Rajni Bector

A Punjab entrepreneur who grew a home bakery into Mrs Bectors Food Specialities and the Cremica group, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Punjab
RL

Rattan Lal Mittal

A Patiala orthopaedic surgeon who invented low-cost instruments and spent decades researching severe clubfoot, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.

  • Padma Shri 2021
  • Punjab
RS

Rattan Singh Jaggi

A Patiala scholar of Punjabi and Hindi literature known for his commentaries on Sikh scripture, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023. He died in 2025.

  • Padma Shri 2023
  • Punjab
SN

Sant Niranjan Dass

The head of Dera Sachkhand Ballan since 1994, whose trusts run a charitable hospital, an eye hospital and a school, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.

  • Padma Shri 2026
  • Punjab