#570 - The Padmas : Fifty Stories of Perseverance
by Neha J Hiranandani and illustrated by David Yambem
“The Padmas : Fifty Stories of Perseverance” by Neha J Hiranandani and illustrated by David Yambem. Published by Penguin. A beautifully illustrated inspirational book showcasing fifty amazing Padma awardees over the years.
The Padma awards were instituted in 1954. They are given in three categories namely Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan. They have been awarded to people from various walks of life for their distinguished services over the last seventy years. They not just celebrate their achievements but also honour their service and love for the nation. Thus they are more than just a medallion. They have become a feeling and express the gratitude of a nation for the service rendered by these exceptional people.
The book covers the stories of fifty amazing people from diverse spheres ranging from art to science to medicine to literature to music and dance to sports and many more. While some are well known figures, many are relatively unknown and therefore unsung. They have all brought about a difference in their respective fields and created a rich legacy through their excellence. They have shown that it is possible to accomplish remarkable things through passion, determination, perseverance and courage. Read the book to know the stories of fifty of the amazing Padmas and get inspired.
Beautifully designed and illustrated, the book was captivating to say the least. My ten and a half year old who loves true stories couldn’t let go of the book. He was keen to know about each of the persons and which of the Padmas they had won. It was a delight to see some popular names and some whose stories we had read in books earlier such as Annapurna Devi, Arunima Sinha, Janaki Ammal and Teejan Bai. We were eager to know about many others who were new for us. We were thrilled to find some of our favourite writers who we have fortunate to meet in person such as Ruskin Bond and Sudha Murthy amongst the fifty people. My son was amazed by how diverse each of the people were, be it in terms of education, region, field of contribution, personal background or contributions. What was common was their passion, determination, perseverance, courage and the strive for excellence in whatever they did together with their love for the nation. Overall the book gives a brief overview of each of these awe-inspiring people and their invaluable contributions to society making it a “MUST READ” for inspiring us to give our best to whatever we do. We hope that more such books are written about the other Padma awardees as we are sure there are many more whose stories need to be told.
Recommended Age
The book is apt for children aged 8 and above.
Disclaimer - We received this book from the publisher, Penguin India, for review. Thank you to Mansi, from Penguin, for sending across the book!