The President of India Droupadi Murmu conferred Padma Bhushan to Shri Anant Nag (Art), Padma Shri to Dr. Ricky Gyan Kej (Art), Shri Prashanth Prakash (Trade and Industry), Dr. Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar (Art) from Karnataka during the Civil Investiture Ceremony in New Delhi.  

Brief citation about the life and work of the awardees is given below:

Shri Anant Nag

Shri Anant Nag is a veteran Kannada Film actor known for his versatility and contribution to Indian cinema over the past 5 decades.

Born on September 4^th, 1948, Shri Anant spent the first 12 of his formative years at Anandashram, an Ashram in Kasargode district founded by Swami Ramdas and Mataji Krishna Bai, and at Shri Chitrapur Math in Shirali, where Swami Anandashram was the Mathadhipati. His parents devoted themselves to the service of these two revered Sanatana institutions, which upheld the ideals of Naam, Dhyaana, and Seva. These spiritual moorings had a profound impact on his life cementing his love for Sanatana religion, tradition and culture.

Shri Anant pursued his early education in Udupi, Chitrapur, Shirali and Honnavar in coastal Karnataka before moving to Bombay, where he completed his matriculation. Landing a vacation job during his college days, at the age of 18, he was selected to play the main role in a 3-act play on the life of Saint Chaitanya Mahaprabhu of Bengal by drama stalwarts, Writer Shri Prabhakar Mudur and director Shri Venkat Rao Talageri. His second assignment was on the life of Goutama, the Buddha. Third, was in the role of a youth, who has distinct remembrance and memories of his previous life. These three roles were the foundation on which he built his name as an actor. He went on to play over 50 diverse roles in as many plays over the next 5 years.

Encouraged by Y.N. Krishnamurthy, Girish Karnad, and G V Iyer, Shri Anant debuted in a lead role in his first Kannada feature film, Sankalp. Ankur  was his first Hindi feature film. Over the years, he has portrayed variegated characters in over 300 films across Kannada, Hindi, Telugu, Malayalam, Tamil, and Marathi. Malgudi Days was another of his forays. Known for his natural performances and remarkable versatility, he has captivated audiences across languages, regions, and generations, solidifying his status as one of Indian cinema’s conspicuous actors. His immense talent has been recognized with multiple accolades, including five Karnataka State Best Actor Awards and five Filmfare Awards.In 2023, he marked 50 years in cinema, celebrating a glorious Golden Jubilee in his career.

Beyond the realm of cinema, in the 3 decades spanning 1970s -1990s, Shri Anant served as a Member of the Karnataka Legislative Council from 1988 to 1994. He was Member of the Legislative Assembly from 1994-1999, whence he held office as Minister of State for Bangalore City Development.

Shri Anant has been awarded the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the Karnataka Sahitya Academy Award for a biographical book on his late brother, Karnataka State Lifetime Achievement Award and an Honorary Doctorate from Bangalore University (North).

Dr. Ricky Gyan Kej

Dr. Ricky Gyan Kej is a leading figure in the world of global music. He is a three-time Grammy Award winner and four-time Grammy nominee.

Born on 5^th August, 1981, Dr. Kej displayed an early inclination toward music, eventually pursuing it as his life’s calling despite initial societal and family expectations. His dedication led him to become a globally recognized artist, creating compositions that transcend boundaries. He has performed at prestigious venues in over 35 countries, including at the United Nations Headquarters in New York and Geneva. His past repertoire of work includes 25 studio albums released internationally, over 3500 TV and radio commercials and 8 feature films, including the natural history documentary 'Wild Karnataka' narrated by Sir David Attenborough. He also scored music for the opening ceremony of the Cricket World Cup 2011, held in Dhaka-Bangladesh.    

Dr. Kej’s ground-breaking compositions fuse traditional Indian elements with contemporary global sounds, earning widespread critical acclaim and industry recognition. His innovative approach to music has garnered him a devoted international following, and his works have been performed at some of the world's most esteemed venues including global environmental summits and humanitarian gatherings.

Dr. Kej’s artistic vision extends beyond entertainment; he sees music as a catalyst for change. His compositions often focus on themes of environmental conservation, climate action, and social consciousness.He is a UNCCD "Goodwill Ambassador", UNHCR "High Profile Supporter", UNICEF "Celebrity Supporter", UNESCO MGIEP "Global Ambassador for Kindness" and works closely with the WHO on their "Make Listening Safe Initiative".  He works closely with several wings of the United Nations. As a United Nations Goodwill Ambassador (UNCCD), he uses his massive celebrity status to raise awareness on issues such land degradation, desertification and drought. Notably, he has composed the official "Land Anthem" for the UNCCD and is a passionate advocate for their "Her Land, Her Rights" campaign to champion Gender Equality and Women's Land Rights. He is a "High Profile Supporter” of the two-time Nobel Peace-Prize Winning organization United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNCHR) and is involved in several of their campaign to protect refugees and other displaced peoples. He works closely with the World Health Organizations" "Make Listening Safe" initiative that aims to realize a world where people of all ages can enjoy recreational listening without risk to their hearing. He also works with UNICEF as a "Celebrity Supporter" to help protect children's rights.

Dr. Kej has received numerous honors recognizing his significant contributions. He has been awarded the United Nations "Global Humanitarian Artist" award. Among other awards to his credit, he has also won the prestigious "Ban Ki-Moon Award", The House of Commons, Parliament of Canada has awarded him for his "Outstanding Musical and Humanitarian Achievement". A chapter on his life and musical journey is taught in the 7^th grade English textbooks in India.

Shri Prashanth Prakash

Shri Prashanth Prakash is known for playing a key role in defining India's entrepreneurial and philanthropic landscape since the mid-90s, and is particularly renowned for his strategic interventions in the startup space - backing homegrown, high-growth ventures that are valued at billions today.

Born on 29^th  May, 1965 in Bengaluru, Karnataka, Shri Prakash received his Bachelor of Engineering (Computer Science) from Bangalore University in 1988, and Master's Degree in Computer Science from the University of Delaware, USA in 1990. He has also been awarded a Doctorate from the University of Mysore.

Shri Prakash is the Founding Partner of Accel India. He also serves as the Chairman/ Founding partner of multiple non-profits including ACT Grants, United Way Bengaluru, Unboxing BLR Foundation, Sikshana Foundation and Krishikalpa Foundation. He is a Founding Partner of the Chanakya Center for Sustainability, and is part of the Founding Group at Plaksha University.He founded Visual Reality, one of India's first animation companies, in 1996. The next year, he co-founded NetKraft, which emerged as a leader in offshore solutions for both retail and healthcare sectors. He co-founded Erasmic Ventures in 2004, one of India's first seed-stage funds, which later merged with Accel, one of the earliest global venture capital firms to enter India. As the founding partner of Accel India, he made audacious early bets investing in nascent companies that went on to redefine consumer experiences across the globe - Flipkart, Swiggy, BookMyShow, BlueStone, Infra.Market, AgroStar, Clever Tap and RentoMojoetc being a few notable names that have been instrumental in shaping eCommerce, digital consumer brands, agritech, B2B, and global value chains. He has invested in over 50 other companies and has served on the boards of more than 30 organisations.

Shri Prakash is the Founding Patron of Longevity India and has enabled research in the field of longevity and aging in the country. In August, 2022, he partnered with the Indian Institute of Science (lISc) to set up a geriatrics wing as part of IISc's upcoming Bagchi-Parthasarathy Hospital. His contributions to this initiative were acknowledged by the President Smt. DroupadiMurmu during the 2023 Visitor's Conference at Rashtrapati Bhavan.

Shri Prakash is a member of the National Startup Advisory Council, where he advises government bodies on how to build a strong ecosystem for startups and innovation. He has also served as the Strategy & Policy Advisor to the Chief Minister, Karnataka. His leadership as the Chairman of Karnataka's Vision Group for Startups has yielded excellent results including the crafting of an enabling policy framework for startups. Through initiatives like Elevate, Unnati, and the Karnataka Digital Economy Mission (KDEM), he has helped in nurturing both entrepreneurs and investors alike. In 2020, he co-founded ACT Grants - Action Covid Taskforce; a coalition of entrepreneurs, venture capitalists, and social impact leaders who collectively raised a Rs 100 crore fund to support critical healthcare needs during the period. He was chosen as the Social Impact Leader in 2021 for his philanthropic work by ASSOCHAM. He leads the Culkey Foundation, which preserves Karnataka's cultural and tourism assets through initiatives like NammaSmaraka and ONE-TAC, a digital platform enhancing accessibility and support for local artisans and small businesses.

Shri Prakash is the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions.

                     DR. VENKAPPA AMBAJI SUGATEKAR                                        

Dr. Venkappa Ambaji Sugatekar is a distinguished Gondhali folk artist from Karnataka. He is renowned for his profound contributions to preserve and promote the Gondhali folk music tradition with a career spanning over seven decades. He possesses an exceptional memory and has mastered thousands of folk songs, including Dasar Pada, Santha Shishunalar Pada, Vachan Sahitya, Devi Pada.

Born on 1^st May, 1943, Dr. Sugatekar began performing from the age of 10. He has dedicated over seventy one years to performing Gondhali Folk Music and storytelling, captivating audiences with his unique style and deep knowledge of the art form. He knows over 1,000 songs and 150 long form stories of mythology by rote. He has trained over 1,000 students free of cost, ensuring the transmission of Gondhali traditions to younger generations. He has actively engaged with both rural and urban audiences, ensuring the wide spread appreciation of Gondhali Folk Traditions.

Dr. Sugatekar unwavering commitment to Gondhali Folk Music has not only preserved a vital aspect of Karnataka's Cultural Heritage but has also inspired countless individuals to appreciate and continue this tradition. His work has been instrumental in keeping this traditional art form alive, especially among younger generations.  Hon'ble Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi praised Dr. Sugatekar during his 110^th "Man Ki Baat" address, highlighting his efforts in reviewing and sustaining Karnataka's Folk Traditions. Hon'ble Prime Minister described him as a "Cultural Torch Bearer" who has dedicated his life preserving India's rich cultural heritage.

Dr. Sugatekar has performed extensively across Karnatka, spreading awareness about this traditional art form. His performances often include devotional songs, storytelling, cultural narratives that reflect the rich heritage of Karnataka. He is celebrated as a living legend of Karnataka's Folk Music. His work has not only preserved Gondhali Folk Art but also inspired countless artists to take up this traditional form.  At the age of 82, he continues to be an active cultural ambassador, ensuring that the legacy of Gondhali Folk Art remains vibrant and relevant. His life and works stand as testament to the power of cultural preservation and the enduring impact of traditional art forms in modern times.

Dr. Sugatekar has been awarded Honorary Doctorate in 2022 by Karnataka Folklore University and Government of Karnataka awarded Janapadshri award in 2017. He was awarded Rajyotsava Award in 2012, Karnataka Satate Senior Citizen Award in 2022 and Karnataka Janapad Yakshagana Academy Award in 2004. He has received more than 30 dignified awards.

 

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(Release ID: 2131796)