Ahmed Hussain and Mohammed Hussain
Jaipur brothers who have sung ghazals together for over six decades, with some 80 albums, jointly honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
- Padma Shri 2023
- Rajasthan
Heroes from Rajasthan
People from the state of Rajasthan whose work we have profiled.
Showing 1–22 of 22 heroes
Ali Mohammed and Ghani Mohammed
Bikaner brothers who have sung Rajasthan's Mand folk style together for about 40 years and taught it to others, jointly honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.
- Padma Shri 2024
- Rajasthan
Arjun Singh Shekhawat
A Rajasthani writer and teacher from Pali who wrote 30 books and recorded the folk culture of the Garasia tribe, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.
- Padma Shri 2021
- Rajasthan
Avani Lekhara
A para-shooter from Jaipur who won gold and bronze at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympics, the first Indian woman to win Paralympic gold; Padma Shri, 2022.
- Padma Shri 2022
- Rajasthan
Baijnath Maharaj
A former school principal who heads the Nathji Maharaj Ashram in Laxmangarh and runs Sanskrit and yoga schools, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
- Padma Shri 2025
- Rajasthan
Begam Batool
A Rajasthani folk and bhajan singer from the Mirasi community who broke social barriers to perform on four continents, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
- Padma Shri 2025
- Rajasthan
Chandraprakash Dwivedi
A doctor turned film-maker known for the television epic Chanakya and the films Pinjar and Mohalla Assi, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.
- Padma Shri 2022
- Rajasthan
Devendra Jhajharia
A javelin thrower from Churu, the first Indian para-athlete with two Paralympic golds, who added silver in Tokyo; Padma Bhushan, 2022.
- Padma Bhushan 2022
- Rajasthan
Gafruddin Mewati Jogi
A bhapang player from Deeg who sings the Mewati Jogi epics, including a 2,500-couplet Mahabharata, from memory, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
- Padma Shri 2026
- Rajasthan
Janki Lal Bhand
A Bhilwara bahurupiya, or impersonation artist, who has kept dozens of traditional characters alive, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.
- Padma Shri 2024
- Rajasthan
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
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
Laxman Singh
A Rajasthan villager whose chauka system of rainwater harvesting turned Laporiya green and became a model for drylands, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
- Padma Shri 2023
- Rajasthan
Maya Tandon
A Jaipur anaesthesiologist who founded Sahayta to train ordinary people in first aid for road accident victims, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2024.
- Padma Shri 2024
- Rajasthan
Moolchand Lodha
A social worker who set up a tribal welfare centre in Dungarpur with an eye hospital, school and orphan care, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2023.
- Padma Shri 2023
- Rajasthan
Rajiv Mehrishi
A former Comptroller and Auditor General and Union home and finance secretary who drafted key laws, honoured with the Padma Bhushan in 2022.
- Padma Bhushan 2022
- Rajasthan
Ram Dayal Sharma
A Nautanki singer and guru called the Nightingale of Braj, who has given more than 5,000 shows, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2022.
- Padma Shri 2022
- Rajasthan
Sheen Kaaf Nizam
A Jodhpur-born Urdu poet and critic whose verse blends Persian and Sanskrit traditions, a Sahitya Akademi winner, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2025.
- Padma Shri 2025
- Rajasthan
Shyam Sundar Paliwal
The former sarpanch of Piplantri in Rajasthan who started planting 111 trees for every girl born in the village, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2021.
- Padma Shri 2021
- Rajasthan
Swami Brahamdev
A Sri Ganganagar monk who founded schools for blind and deaf children and a free eye hospital, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
- Padma Shri 2026
- Rajasthan
Taga Ram Bheel
An algoza player from Jaisalmer who learned the double flute while herding cattle, honoured with the Padma Shri in 2026.
- Padma Shri 2026
- Rajasthan
Usha Chaumar
Forced into manual scavenging as a child, she broke free, learned new skills, and became a leading voice for others trying to leave the same work.
- Padma Shri 2020
- Rajasthan