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{{Short description|Indian Hindu monk and social worker}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2025}}

{{Infobox person
| name = Swami Pradiptananda
| image =
| caption =
| birth_name = Kartik Maharaj
| alias = Swami Pradiptananda
| occupation = {{hlist|Hindu monk|social worker}}
| organisation = [[Bharat Sevashram Sangha]]
| known_for = Social service and religious leadership
| awards = [[Padma Shri]] (2025)
| alma_mater =
}}

'''Swami Pradiptananda''', popularly known as '''Kartik Maharaj''', is an Indian Hindu monk and social worker affiliated with the [[Bharat Sevashram Sangha]]. He was awarded the [[Padma Shri]], in 2025 for his contributions to social work.<ref name="padmaawards2025">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards 2025 |url=https://www.padmaawards.gov.in/Document/pdf/notifications/PadmaAwards/2025.pdf |website=Padma Awards Portal |publisher=Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="pib2025">{{Cite web |title=Padma Awards 2025 announced |url=https://www.pib.gov.in/PressReleasePage.aspx?PRID=2096285 |website=PIB |publisher=Government of India |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref>

==Career==
Swami Pradiptananda has been associated with various service activities through the Bharat Sevashram Sangha, focusing on relief work, education, and community service in West Bengal and other parts of India.<ref name="hindu">{{Cite news |title=Monk chosen for Padma awards thanks Mamata for criticising him |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/west-bengal/monk-chosen-for-padma-awards-thanks-mamata-for-criticising-him/article69143959.ece |access-date=28 May 2025 |work=The Hindu |date=27 January 2025}}</ref> He gained national attention following political reactions to his selection for the Padma award, particularly during public disagreements between state and central leaders.<ref name="ht">{{Cite news |title=Bengal’s Padma awardee Hindu monk came to limelight amid Modi-Mamata tussle |url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/bengals-padma-awardee-hindu-monk-came-to-limelight-amid-modi-mamata-tussle-101737905241467.html |work=Hindustan Times |access-date=28 May 2025 |date=27 January 2025}}</ref><ref name="ie">{{Cite news |title=Padma Shri: Bharat Sevashram monk Kartik Maharaj thanks Mamata Banerjee for criticism |url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/padma-shri-bharat-sevashram-monk-kartik-maharaj-mamata-banerjee-9800186/ |work=The Indian Express |date=27 January 2025 |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref>

==Reception==
The conferment of the Padma Shri to Swami Pradiptananda sparked public and political discourse in West Bengal. While some political figures opposed the award on grounds of perceived ideological bias,<ref name="toi1">{{Cite news |title=TMC, Cong, CPM attack Padma Shri to Kartik Maharaj; BJP defends monk |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/tmc-cong-cpm-attack-padma-shri-to-kartik-maharaj-bjp-defends-monk/articleshow/117612457.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="telegraph">{{Cite news |title=Trinamul's Kunal Ghosh objects to Padma Shri for Hindu monk Kartik Maharaj |url=https://www.telegraphindia.com/west-bengal/trinamuls-kunal-ghosh-objects-to-padma-shri-for-hindu-monk-kartik-maharaj/cid/2079843 |work=The Telegraph |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref> others defended the recognition citing his service record.<ref name="toi2">{{Cite news |title=Mamata, Shankar, Pt Tejendra Narayan among 9 Padma awardees from Bengal |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kolkata/mamata-shankar-pt-tejendra-narayan-among-9-padma-awardees-from-bengal/articleshow/117559588.cms |work=The Times of India |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref>

==Controversies==
His name was at the center of political debates during the 2024-25 Padma award announcements. Various media outlets linked the controversy to broader ideological tensions between state and central leaderships.<ref name="wire1">{{Cite news |title=Murshidabad Ram Temple: Kartik Maharaj and Padma Shri |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/communalism/murshidabad-ram-temple-kartik-maharaj-padma-shri |work=The Wire |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref><ref name="wire2">{{Cite news |title=Swami Pradiptananda, Modi and Mamata |url=https://m.thewire.in/article/politics/swami-pradiptananda-narendra-modi-mamata-banerjee |work=The Wire |access-date=28 May 2025}}</ref>

==Awards==
* [[Padma Shri]] in 2025 for contributions to social work.<ref name="padmaawards2025"/>

==See also==
* [[Bharat Sevashram Sangha]]
* [[Padma Shri]]

==References==
<references />

{{Padma Shri Award Recipients in "Others" Category|state=collapsed}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Indian Hindu monks]]
[[Category:Recipients of the Padma Shri in social work]]
[[Category:Year of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:People from West Bengal]]

Swami Pradiptananda - Revision history

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