On the eve of Republic Day, the Ministry of Home Affairs published the completed list of Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri award recipients for 2026. Among the total 131 awardees announced this year, 11 are from West Bengal.
The Padma Shri award will be conferred on Ashokkumar Haldar (Literature and Education), Gambhir Singh Yonzon (Literature and Education), Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay (posthumous) (Arts), Jyotish Debnath (Arts), Kumar Bose (Arts), Mahendranath Roy (Literature and Education), Prosenjit Chatterjee (Arts), Rabilal Tudu (Literature and Education), Saroj Mandal (Medicine), Tarun Bhattacharya (Arts), and Tripti Mukhopadhyay (Arts). However, there are no recipients from West Bengal in the Padma Vibhushan or Padma Bhushan categories this year.
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Contributions Across Literature, Arts and Science
Rabilal Tudu, a resident of Noyara in Badla, Kalna, is receiving the Padma Shri for his contribution to Santali literature. He was earlier honoured with the Bangabhushan award by the state government in 2022. Writing plays and acting since his student days, his book Bir Birsa, based on the life of Birsa Munda, brought him wider recognition.
Jyotish Debnath, a resident of Baruipara in Kalna town, Burdwan, is being awarded the Padma Shri for his contribution to muslin art. He has been associated with muslin work since the age of seven.
Harimadhab Mukhopadhyay, a distinguished theatre personality from Balurghat, is receiving the Padma Shri posthumously. His contribution to theatre spans nearly six decades as an actor, director and writer.
Chemistry professor Mahendranath Roy has made significant contributions to research on nanozymes and is being honoured for his work.
Tabla player Kumar Bose, an artist of the Benaras gharana, has contributed to the music world for more than five decades. His performances have earned him wide acclaim, and he is receiving the Padma Shri this year.
Dr Saroj Mandal is being recognised for his important contributions to the field of cardiology.
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Santoor maestro Tarun Bhattacharya, a renowned figure in Bengal’s music world, is also among the Padma Shri recipients this year.
Tripti Mukhopadhyay has worked extensively in kantha stitch handicrafts and has trained more than 20,000 women in this craft. She is receiving the Padma Shri for her contribution to the arts.
Ashokkumar Haldar has made notable contributions to literature. A former railway employee, his achievements as a Dalit writer have received national recognition.
Gambhir Singh Yonzon, former principal of Kalimpong College, is being honoured for his lifelong dedication to studying the flora of the hills, particularly the medicinal trees of the Himalayas.
