5 from Karnataka including ‘Tree Woman’ Thimmakka get Padma Shri

Bengaluru, Jan 26: Five eminent people from Karnataka are among the Padma awardeesthis year.

Saalumarada Thimmakka(social work -- environment)

Fondly called the Tree Woman’, 108-year-old Thimmakka is a green crusader who has planted over 400 trees on a 4-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur in Bengaluru Rural district. Thimmakka and her husband decided to plant and nurture banyan saplings like their own children after they failed to have kids of their own. A recipient of many awards, she’s the oldest living environmentalist in Karnataka.

Pt Rajeev Taranath (art music — sarod)

A renowned sarod maestro, he is an exponent of the ancient Senia gharana of Hindustani music. He’s the first Indian to have played at the Sydney Opera House and winner of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. Bengaluru-based Taranath said: “I’m happy, very happy that I have won the award. At long last, my people have recognised those like me who are seriously interested in serious classical music. On behalf of my people, on behalf of you, everybody, I’m happy to have got the Padma Shri.”

Prof Sharada Srinivasan (archaeology)

A professor at the National Institute of Advanced Studies, Benglauru, she’s known for exploring scientific applications in archaeology, history of art and culture. Her major contributions pertain to bronzes, mining and metallurgy and mirror making in south India. A Bharatnatyam exponent herself and ardent admirer of Leonardo da Vinci, she has given numerous demonstrations on artistic and scientific perspectives on the Nataraja bronze. She has five books and 60 research papers to her credit.

Prof Rohini Godbole (science & engineering -- nuclear)

She’s a J C Bose Fellow and professor at the Centre for High Energy Physics at Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru. Elementary particle physics, field theory and phenomenology are her areas of specialisation. She’s best known for work on high energy photons at CERN and is part of the International Detector Advisory Group for the International Linear Collider there. She’s also chairperson of IISc’s Panel for Women in Science initiative. Along with Ram Ramaswamy, she has edited ‘Lilavati’s Daughters’, a collection of biographical essays on women scientists from India.

Prabhu Deva (art - dance)

Though a big name in Telugu, Tamil and Hindi film industries, Prabhu Deva has his roots in Karnataka. His father, Mugur Sundar, was from Muguru village in Mysuru district. Sundar was a dance director for several Kannada films when they were made in Madras. Prabhu Deva, known as the Indian Michael Jackson, has acted in a few Kannada movies too. Besides acting and choreography, he’s also recognised as a movie director.