Aadharshila – a group of writers, journalists and artists has appealed to Indian Government to honor Dara Singh, Shammi Kapoor, Jeetendra, Samrat Shankar and Rishi Kapoor with Padma Awards. Sh Pradeep Sardana, a senior journalist,criic and President Aadharshila has written a letter to Honorable President, Prime Minister and Home Minister and said the Government to remember some great artists, on the Diamond jubilee year of Padma Awards, who had given their utmost contribution of their art. Still these dignitaries have not been honored even with Padma Shree, so Padma Vibhushan and Padma Bhushan are far away.
Sh. Sardana has also written that Indian Government has honored 2679 people in total, with Padma shree awards, from the year 1954 till 2014. But in these 60 years, there are many art dignitaries who have been ignored to be honored with Padma Awards, but should have awarded long back. These include wrestler and actor Dara Singh, and actor popular for his unique style Shammi Kapoor, who had unfortunately left the world, without being honored. Whereas well known for his art of magic and social service Magician Samrat Shankar, well known senior actor Jeetendra and Rishi Kapoor have been far away from this big national honor. However many artists who have been much junior and ordinary, had been honored with Padma Awards. On the other hand, this is hard to believe that Magician P.C Sarkar had been awarded with Padma Shree in the year 1964, and after that it has been 50 years now, and no other magician has been honored with the same. The Haryana Government has been nominating Samrat Shankar for Padma Shree, from last 15 years continuously.
Magician Shankar has been performing his art in and outside the country, since 1974. He has done almost 25000 shows till now, in which 17000 has been done only for charity. With this, he has contributed a huge amount to various relief funds, and performed the lead role in social service as well. Even his art of magic has been appreciated by people like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi, Rajeev Gandhi, Chandra Shekhar, Giani Zail Singh, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lal krishan Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and many other Chief Ministers, Governors, and Cabinet Ministers.
If the current Indian Government will honor Jeetendra, Samrat Shankar and Rishi Kapoor with Padma Bhushan or Padma Shree, along with Posthumous Padma Honors to Dara Singh and Shammi kapoor, then it will not only rectify the ignorance done by previous Governments, but also will spread the noble message to the people.
Magician Shankar has been performing his art in and outside the country, since 1974. He has done almost 25000 shows till now, in which 17000 has been done only for charity. With this, he has contributed a huge amount to various relief funds, and performed the lead role in social service as well. Even his art of magic has been appreciated by people like Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Narendra Modi, Rajeev Gandhi, Chandra Shekhar, Giani Zail Singh, Bhairon Singh Shekhawat, Lal krishan Advani, Rajnath Singh, Sushma Swaraj and many other Chief Ministers, Governors, and Cabinet Ministers.
Similarly, the symbol of power and strength and the one who has defeated all the national- international wrestling champions, and became the world champion, known as Rustam-e-Hind Dara Singh is a true Bharat Ratna, but the Government has always ignored him. Dara Singh has acted in 215 films and directed 7 films, from the year 1952 to 2011, and contributed widely to Indian Cinema as well. And the role of Hanuman, played by him in TV series ‘Ramayana’, requires no words to explain his popularity in Indian Television.
On the other hand, the Indian Government has been very generous to Kapoors, the biggest family of Indian Cinema. Prithvi Raj Kapoor, Raj Kapoor and Shammi Kapoor had been honored with Padma Awards, and Raj Kapoor had been honored with Dada sahib Phalke Award as well. But two more gems of Kapoor family- Shammi kapoor and Rishi Kapoor has not been awarded with Padma Awards yet. The contribution of Shammi Kapoor has been important because he had transformed the traditional image of an Indian hero. Since 1953, he has done memorable roles in almost 100 films in his career span of 58 years. Also, Rishi Kapoor has completed more than 40 years in Indian Film Industry. He has started his career in 1973 with the film ‘Bobby’, and has given many memorable films in his entire journey till now of 125 films. Now, the senior film star jeetendra, 72 years old and has done 175 films in his career span, starting from 1959. He has been also known for the new revolutionary change in Indian Television, with his production banner Balaji Telefilms. But he has also been far away from Padma Award.
If the current Indian Government will honor Jeetendra, Samrat Shankar and Rishi Kapoor with Padma Bhushan or Padma Shree, along with Posthumous Padma Honors to Dara Singh and Shammi kapoor, then it will not only rectify the ignorance done by previous Governments, but also will spread the noble message to the people.
