List of people who have declined or renounced Indian honours and decorations

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The following is an incomplete list of people who have either declined or renounced an Indian honour or decoration. These include recipients of the Bharat Ratna and the Padma awards (Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan, Padma Shri), along with other Indian governmental awards. In some instances, the families of an intended posthumous recipient of a national honour have declined the award for various reasons. Since the honours system was instituted in 1954, approximately 50 individuals have either refused or returned their honours, most of which were awarded in the categories of Art and in Literature and Education.[1]

The President of India may cancel and annul any honour if the recipient commits any acts of criminal misconduct or otherwise abuses the award. As there are no specific guidelines for otherwise withdrawing a national honour from a recipient, the acts of returning/renouncing an award to register a protest, or refusing an award after an official awards list has been published, are only symbolic actions.[2] For instance, while independence activist and educationist Asha Devi Aryanayakam refused the Padma Shri after it was conferred upon her in 1954,[3] she remains on the official register of Padma awardees.[4] In 1984, poet and novelist Khushwant Singh, a 1974 Padma Bhushan honoree, returned the honour to protest the Indian army's Operation Blue Star; in spite of this, he remains listed as a Padma Bhushan recipient.[4]

Bharat Ratna[edit]

Refused the honour (Maulana Abul Kalam Azad)[edit]

Prominent independence movement leader and India's first Minister of Education Maulana Abul Kalam Azad declined the honour, arguing that those who were on selection committees for national honours should not themselves receive them. He received a posthumous Bharat Ratna in 1992.[5]

Refusal of posthumous conferment (Subhas Chandra Bose)[edit]

In 1992, the surviving family of nationalist leader and revolutionary Subhas Chandra Bose, who went missing under mysterious circumstances in 1945, were contacted about accepting a posthumous Bharat Ratna on Bose's behalf; however, his family declined the honour, citing the length of time it had taken the government to recognize him.[6]

Padma Vibhushan[edit]

Refused the honour[edit]

Returned the honour[edit]

  • Parkash Singh Badal, a former chief minister of Punjab and a 2015 Padma Vibhushan recipient, returned the honour in December 2020 in support of the 2020–2021 Indian farmers' protests, writing to the President "I am who I am because of the people, especially the common farmer. Today, when [the farmer] has lost more than his honour, I see no point in holding on to the Padma Vibhushan honour."[11]

Refusal of posthumous conferment[edit]

  • In 2011, the family of Lakshmi Chand Jain refused to accept the posthumous honour as Jain was against accepting state honours.[12][13]

Padma Bhushan[edit]

Refused the honour[edit]

  • Bengali theatre activist Sisir Kumar Bhaduri (1959) was the first awardee who refused his conferment as "he felt state awards merely help create a sycophantic brigade" and "did not want to encourage the impression that the government was serious about the importance of theatre in national life."[14][15]
  • Sociologist G. S. Ghurye declined the honour as he felt he deserved the higher Padma Vibhushan, given the calibre of others who had received the more prestigious decoration.[16]
  • Journalist Nikhil Chakravarty rejected the award in 1990 stating that the "journalists should not be identified with the establishment."
  • Historian Romila Thapar refused to accept the award twice, for the first time in 1992, and later again in 2005, stating that she would accept awards only "from academic institutions or those associated with my professional work." For her 2005 bestowal, Thapar sent a clarification letter to the then President A. P. J. Abdul Kalam mentioning that she had declined to accept the award when the Ministry of Human Resource Development had contacted her three month prior to the award announcement and had explained her reasons for not accepting the award.[17]
  • Journalist and civil servant K. Subrahmanyam also refused his 1999 bestowal citing that "bureaucrats and journalists should not accept any award from the government because they are more liable to be favoured."[18]
  • Industrialist Keshub Mahindra (2003, reasons not given)[19]
  • In 2003, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh's (RSS) volunteer Dattopant Thengadi rejected the award until K. B. Hedgewar (RSS founder) and M. S. Golwalkar (RSS ideologue) were offered the Bharat Ratna.[20]
  • Former Minister of Commerce and Industry of Rajasthan and Sarvodaya activist Siddharaj Dhadda (declined in 2003).[20]
  • Civil servant S. R. Sankaran turned down the award in 2005, as he could not accept any award for merely doing his duty.[21][22]
  • Author Krishna Sobti declined to accept in 2010, as she was already a 1996 recipient of a Sahitya Akademi Fellowship, "the biggest recognition for a writer," and that as a writer she "had to keep a distance from the establishment."[23]
  • In 2013, playback singer S. Janaki refused to accept her award and stated that "the award has come late in her five-and-half-decade long career." The singer also mentioned that she is not against the Government and expressed happiness for the recognition but requested the Government to "show some more consideration to the artists from the southern parts of the country.[24]

Refusal of posthumous conferment[edit]

  • In 2014, family members of J. S. Verma who served as 27th Chief Justice of India refused the posthumous conferral stating that "Verma himself would not have accepted" the honour as he "never hankered or lobbied for any acclaim, reward or favour."[25]

Returned the honour[edit]

Padma Shri[edit]

Refused the honour[edit]

  • Freedom fighter and educationist Asha Devi Aryanayakam (1954; on personal grounds).[3]
  • Politician Kashi Prasad Pandey (1967; on personal grounds).[3]
  • Odia poet and dramatist Kavichandra Kalicharan Patnaik (1974; on personal grounds).[3]
  • Vocalist Tarapada Chakraborty (1974; on personal grounds).[3]
  • Music director and composer Hemanta Mukherjee (1988, for unknown reasons).[32]
  • Philanthropist Dipchand Savraj Gardi (1915-2014) (2002, reasons not given).[19][33]
  • Academic and author Mamoni Raisom Goswami declined the honour in 2002 after admirers observed she had previously received the Jnanpith Award and therefore should not accept a less-prestigious Padma Shri.[34]
  • Author Chandra Prasad Saikia (2002, reasons not given).[19] He received a posthumous Padma Bhushan in 2007.[35]
  • Assamese journalist Kanak Sen Deka declined the honour in 2005, stating his acceptance of the lowest-ranking Padma award would have diminished the prestigious literary and journalism awards he had already received.[36]
  • Kuntagodu Vibhuti Subbanna (awarded in the Arts category; declined in 2005).[37]
  • Malayalam writer Sukumar Azhikode refused the honour in 2007, deeming it "unconstitutional."[5]
  • Noted Bollywood screenwriter Salim Khan refused the Padma Shri in 2015 as "it does not match my status and work."[38]
  • Tamil writer B. Jeyamohan declined in 2016, stating that as a writer who was already being targeted for his politics, acceptance of the award could compromise his independence and the integrity of his ideas."[39]
  • Journalist Virendra Kapoor declined the honour in 2016, stating, "I have nothing against the government, [but] I have not accepted anything from any government in the last 40 years, and I don’t believe in taking anything from the government."[39]
  • Sitarist Imrat Khan, the younger brother of Vilayat Khan, declined the honour in 2017 as he had "mixed feelings about...the purpose of this award which comes perhaps many decades late — while my juniors receive the Padma Bhushan."[40]
  • Spiritual teacher Siddeshwar Swami of the Jnana Yogashrama in Vijayapura declined the honour in 2018 as a sanyasi did not need "any award or honour," and that he had "not accepted any awards" before.[41]
  • Author Gita Mehta declined the honour in 2019, stating that while she was "deeply honoured that the Government of India should think me worthy of a Padma Shri," she felt it necessary to decline "with great regret" due to the upcoming general elections, "as the timing of the award might be misconstrued, causing embarrassment both to the Government and myself, which I would much regret."[42]

Refusal of posthumous conferment[edit]

Returned the honour[edit]

  • Hindi poet and journalist Gopal Prasad Vyas, who had been honoured in 1965, returned the honour in 1968 to protest the amendment of the Official Languages Act 1963 to allow for the continued official use of the English language.[26]
  • In 1977, author Phanishwar Nath 'Renu' returned the Padma Shri he had received in 1970, as a protest against the Emergency.[44]
  • In February 1984, Kashmiri writer Akhtar Mohiuddin returned the Padma Shri he had received in 1968 to protest the execution of Kashmiri separatist Maqbool Bhat.[45]
  • Journalist and author Sadhu Singh Hamdard accepted the award in January 1984, but returned it six months later to protest the Indian Army's Operation Blue Star.[46]
  • Poet Kaifi Azmi returned his Padma Shri in the 1980s after the then Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh Vir Bahadur Singh remarked that those speaking Urdu as a second language should be made to sit on a donkey and paraded. According to his daughter Shabana Azmi, her father replied that he had written in Urdu all his life, and if his State’s Chief Minister held such views on the language, he, as a writer, must stand up for himself.[47]
  • Playwright Ratan Thiyam returned his honour, which he had received in 1989, in 2001 to protest the central government's extending the territorial limits of its cease-fire in the conflict with the National Socialist Council of Nagaland (Isak-Muivah). As Thiyam stated, "no tangible effort or urgency [to ameliorate the situation in Manipur] is visible on the part of the Centre. It is decaying by the day and there is no helping hand coming forward. It is not disrespect for the civilian honour of Padma Shri conferred on me, it is the compulsion of my bleeding heart. Although it is a very painful decision, I am, as a protest, relinquishing this honour."[48]
  • In October 2015, Punjabi author Dalip Kaur Tiwana returned the Padma Shri she had been awarded in 2004, citing her "anguish" over a growing intolerance towards free speech and expression in 21st-century India.[49]
  • In November 2015, noted poet Jayanta Mahapatra returned the honour which he had been awarded in 2009, due to "growing intolerance" in India.[50]
  • In February 2019, acclaimed Manipuri filmmaker Aribam Syam Sharma returned the Padma Shri awarded to him in 2006 to protest the Citizenship (Amendment) Bill, as he felt the legislation threatened Manipur's culture and identity.[51]
  • In December 2019, noted Urdu author and satirist Mujtaba Hussain returned the Padma Shri awarded to him in 2007 to express his unhappiness over what he perceived to be an increasing state of lawlessness in India and a general decline in democratic values and political statesmanship. "As a citizen, I am not happy in the country...mob lynching is happening, rapes are happening, criminal activities are growing day by day in the country...Politicians are not running the government or goonda raj is happening or whatever is happening. [The] common man is worried... [the] common man is dying and there is no attention towards him."[52]

Arjuna Award[edit]

Refused the award[edit]

Milkha Singh refused the award in September 2001, stating after having received the Padma Shri in 1958, it was meaningless to receive a less-prestigious award, and the award itself was being given to low-calibre athletes and had become heavily politicized, which had taken away any prestige it might have once had.[53]

Returned the award[edit]

In September 2010, boxer Laishram Sarita Devi, a 2009 recipient, returned the award to protest corruption in the government's management of Indian sports.[54]

Accepted an honour but subsequently declined one[edit]

Sitara Devi[edit]

  • Acclaimed Kathak dancer Sitara Devi accepted a Padma Shri in 1973, but declined a Padma Bhushan, declaring it "an insult, not an honor," and further stated "Is this government not aware of my contribution to Kathak? I will not accept any award less than Bharat Ratna."[55]

Refused or returned an honour, but subsequently accepted one[edit]

Sunderlal Bahuguna[edit]

Soumitra Chatterjee[edit]

  • Film and stage actor Soumitra Chatterjee declined the Padma Shri in the 1970s,[57] but accepted a Padma Bhushan in 2004 "since I do not want to hurt the feelings of my admirers."[58]

Michael Ferreira[edit]

Buddhadev Das Gupta[edit]

  • Sarod master Buddhadev Das Gupta refused the Padma Shri in 2011 as he felt undeserving younger musicians had already received it before him. He accepted a Padma Bhushan in 2012.[60]

Anna Hazare[edit]

  • In 1991, social worker and activist Anna Hazare returned the Padma Shri, which he had received in 1990, as a protest against corruption.[61][62] He however accepted a Padma Bhushan the following year.

Sri Sri Ravi Shankar[edit]

  • Spiritual leader and founder of the Art of Living Foundation Ravi Shankar declined the Padma Vibhushan in 2015 as "there are other deserving people."[63] In 2016, however, responding to recipients of national honours who were returning them to the government, he accepted the honour.[citation needed]

Khushwant Singh[edit]

  • Novelist Khushwant Singh, who accepted the Padma Bhushan in 1974 in the category of literature and education, returned it in 1984 to protest the Indian military's Operation Blue Star. Singh was later awarded the Padma Vibhushan in 2007.[18]

Mother Teresa[edit]

  • Mother Teresa initially declined the Padma Shri in 1960 and 1961 as she felt it improper to receive recognition for service in the name of God. The Archbishop of Kolkata finally persuaded her to accept the honour in 1962. She was later awarded the Bharat Ratna in 1980, the year after she received the Nobel Peace Prize.[64]

Refused or returned multiple honours[edit]

Baba Amte[edit]

In 1991, social activist Baba Amte returned his Padma Vibhushan, along with the Padma Shri conferred in 1971, to protest against the treatment given to the tribals during the construction of Sardar Sarovar Dam.[65]

Krishna Kumar Birla[edit]

Industrialist K. K. Birla was offered the Padma Bhushan in 1976 by Indira Gandhi, but refused as he was "not enamoured of titles" and further considered the honour "too insignificant." He was subsequently promised a Padma Vibhushan after first being awarded the Padma Bhushan, but again declined the offer as accepting a Padma Vibhushan would equate his achievements with his more distinguished father G. D. Birla's, which in his mind would be disrespectful.[66]

Amalprava Das[edit]

Social worker and Gandhian Amalprava Das refused the Padma Shri on personal grounds in 1954.[3] She later declined a Padma Vibhushan.[67]

Sharad Anantrao Joshi[edit]

Agricultural economist and politician Sharad Anantrao Joshi declined the Padma Shri in 1992 over the government's agricultural policies, which he felt marginalized farmers. In 2016, his family refused a posthumous Padma Vibhushan on his behalf as Joshi's work for the good of farmers was not reflected in the Government policies for them.[68]

Vilayat Khan[edit]

Sitarist Vilayat Khan refused Padma Shri (1964), Padma Bhushan (1968), and Padma Vibhushan (2000) and stated that "the selection committees were incompetent to judge [his] music".[5][9][18]

Manikonda Chalapathi Rau[edit]

Manikonda Chalapathi Rau, journalist and editor of the National Herald, returned his Padma Bhushan in 1969, citing personal reasons.[69] He subsequently refused the Padma Vibhushan.[70]

Badal Sarkar[edit]

Playwright Badal Sarkar rejected the Padma Shri in 1972 as he was already a 1968 recipient of the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award, which he said was the best recognition for a writer. He refused a Padma Bhushan in 2010 for the same reason.[23]

Surjit Patar[edit]

In 2015, poet Surjit Patar returned the Sahitya Akademi Award he had received in 1993, to protest a climate of "intolerance" in India. In December 2020, he returned the Padma Shri awarded to him in 2012.[71]

Unknown recipients of Padma awards[edit]

Returned honours[edit]

  • In 1968, one unidentified recipient of the Padma Bhushan and two recipients of the Padma Shri returned their honours to protest the Official Languages (Amendment) Bill.[69]

Military decorations[edit]

Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (returned the decoration)[edit]

In April 1990, Lt. Gen. S. C. Sardeshpande, a commander of the Indian Peace Keeping Force in the Sri Lankan Civil War, returned the Uttam Yudh Seva Medal (UYSM) conferred on him in January 1989, "in the context of criticism in Tamil Nadu of the role of the IPKF in Sri Lanka." As no provisions for returning military decorations existed, however, the medal was returned to the general.[72]

Annulment of Padma awards[edit]

While there are no specific criteria for withdrawing a Padma award from an honoree, the President of India, per the awards' statutes, may cancel and annul any award in the case of any misconduct committed by the recipient.

Padma Shri[edit]

At least three awards of the Padma Shri have been cancelled and annulled, twice in 1958 for recipients residing in the state of Punjab and once in 1974 for a recipient residing in the state of Gujarat.[2]

References[edit]

  1. ↑ Krishnan, Varun B. (5 February 2019). "Honours roll: analysis of all Padma awardees since 1954". The Hindu. Retrieved 5 February 2019.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 "Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 4895: Persons Awarded with Padmashree (2006)". Lok Sabha: Government of India. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 3.3 3.4 3.5 "Rajya Sabha Debates (1974) - Refusal to Accept Padma Shri" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 "Padma Shri" (PDF). Padma Shri. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "Those who said no to top awards". The Times of India. 20 January 2008. Archived from the original on 24 November 2013. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  6. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1992) - Refusal to Accept Bharat Ratna Award for Netaji" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  7. ↑ "Haksar and the Padma Vibhushan". The Hindu. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  8. ↑ Guha, Ramachandra (2001). An Anthropologist Among the Marxists and Other Essays. Permanent Black. p. 211. ISBN 81-7824-001-7.
  9. ↑ 9.0 9.1 Venkatesan, V. (5 February 2000). "Spotlight: Republic Day honours". 17 (3). Frontline. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2015. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  10. ↑ "Ranganathananda, kept alive spirit of Vivekananda's legacy". The Hindu. 31 May 2005. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  11. ↑ "In show of solidarity with protesting farmers, Parkash Singh Badal returns Padma Vibhushan". Indian Express. New Delhi. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  12. ↑ Pawar, Yogesh (15 November 2010). "Gandhian activist who revitalised Indian handicraft dies at 85". Daily News Analysis. Archived from the original on 7 September 2017. Retrieved 10 April 2016.
  13. ↑ "Gandhian's family declines Padma Vibhushan". Mumbai Mirror. The Times of India. 25 March 2011. Archived from the original on 19 September 2017. Retrieved 18 October 2015.
  14. ↑ Sarkar, Chanchal (3 June 2001). "When is an apology not an apology: The losers". The Tribune. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 21 November 2015.
  15. ↑ Shastri, Paromita (2 February 2006). "Two Awards, Two Authors, Two Activists". Outlook India. Archived from the original on 23 March 2017. Retrieved 22 March 2017.
  16. ↑ Pillai, S. Devadas (1997). Indian Sociology through Ghurye: a Dictionary. Popular Prakashan. ISBN 81-7154-807-5.
  17. ↑ "Romila rejects Padma award". The Times of India. New Delhi. 27 January 2005. Archived from the original on 16 October 2015. Retrieved 5 July 2016.
  18. ↑ 18.0 18.1 18.2 Kaminsky, Arnold P.; Long, Roger D. (2011). India Today: An Encyclopedia of Life in the Republic. ABC-CLIO. p. 411. ISBN 978-0-313-37462-3. Archived from the original on 21 September 2017.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 "Rajya Sabha Debates (2005) - Criteria to confer national awards" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  20. ↑ 20.0 20.1 "Rajya Sabha Debates (2003) - Refusal for Padma Bhushan Award" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  21. ↑ "Mentor who moved mountains for the manual scavenger". The Hindu Business Line. 1 September 2017. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  22. ↑ Akhileshwari, R. (13 February 2005). "Awards don't matter..." Deccan Herald. Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 8 October 2016. Retrieved 26 September 2016.
  23. ↑ 23.0 23.1 "Look who declined Padma Bhushan this year: two giants of art, literature". Indian Express. 9 February 2010. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  24. ↑ "Playback singer Janaki rejects Padma Bhushan award". The Times of India. Palakkad. 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 11 June 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  25. ↑ "J. S. Verma's family refuses Padma Bhushan". Indian Express. New Delhi. 31 January 2014. Archived from the original on 21 July 2015. Retrieved 15 March 2016.
  26. ↑ 26.0 26.1 26.2 "Rajya Sabha Debates (1967) - Surrender of National Awards" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  27. ↑ Vadukut, Sidin (21 October 2015). "Déjà View: Thanks, but no thanks". Live Mint. Archived from the original on 19 February 2017. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  28. ↑ "Return of Awards by the Recipients" (PDF). Lok Sabha Debates. 14 (1): 592. 8 July 1992. Retrieved 18 April 2020.
  29. ↑ "CPI leader Dang returns Padma Bhushan". Rediff.com. 20 March 2005. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  30. ↑ Mallikarjun, Y. (12 November 2015). "P.M. Bhargava sends back Padma Bhushan award to President". The Hindu. Hyderabad. Archived from the original on 28 February 2018. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
  31. ↑ "MP Sukhdev Dhindsa returns Padma Bhushan, says award is worthless as farmers are ignored". Hindustan Times. New Delhi. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
  32. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1988) - National Awards" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  33. ↑ "Prominent philanthropist Dipchand Gardi passes away: Modi expresses grief and sorrow". Desh Gujarat. 7 January 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  34. ↑ "Artistes' angst". The Hindu. 19 January 2003. Retrieved 18 June 2018.[dead link]
  35. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 19 June 2015.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "Refusal question mark on awards". The Telegraph - India. 28 January 2005. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  37. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (2005)" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  38. ↑ "Salim Khan declines to receive Padma Shri". The Indian Express. 27 January 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Sharad Joshi's family, Tamil writer say no to Padma honour". The Indian Express. 26 January 2016. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  40. ↑ "Sitar maestro Ustad Imrat Khan declines Padma Shri, says it's 'too little too late'". IndiaTV News. 3 February 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  41. ↑ "Siddeshwar Swami declines Padma Shri". The Hindu. 27 January 2018. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  42. ↑ "Writer Gita Mehta, Naveen Patnaik's sister, turns down Padma Shri; cites timing before polls". The Indian Express. 26 January 2019. Retrieved 26 January 2019.
  43. ↑ "Padma Awards: Late Dawoodi Bohra leader family among those who refused to accept awards". The Indian Express. 9 April 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  44. ↑ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 18 June 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  45. ↑ "Heroes of Kashmir: Akhtar Mohiuddin". Lost Kashmiri History. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  46. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1984) - Surrender of National Awards on Punjab Issue" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  47. ↑ "Role of arts not just to entertain: Shabana Azmi". The Hindu. 20 October 2015. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  48. ↑ "Ratan Thiyam returns his Padma Shri". Rediff.com. 20 July 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  49. ↑ "Punjabi writer Tiwana to return Padma Shri". The Tribune. 14 October 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  50. ↑ "Jayanta Mahapatra returns Padma Shri protesting 'intolerance'". The Hindustan Times. 23 November 2015. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  51. ↑ "Manipuri filmmaker returns Padma award in protest against Citizenship Bill". The Indian Express. 4 February 2019. Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  52. ↑ "Urdu writer Mujtaba Hussain to return Padma Shri". The Telegraph (India). 18 December 2019. Retrieved 21 December 2019.
  53. ↑ "Milkha Singh not to accept Arjuna Award". The Tribune. 17 August 2001. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  54. ↑ "Sarita to return Arjuna Award". KanglaOnline. 1 October 2010. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  55. ↑ "Sitara Devi turns down Padma Bhushan – Times of India". Retrieved 4 February 2019.
  56. ↑ "Noted activist Sunderlal Bahuguna turns 90". The Pioneer. 10 January 2017. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  57. ↑ "Why would I have gone to Mumbai? asks Soumitra Chatterjee". Hindustan Times. 12 May 2012. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  58. ↑ "I'll accept Padma Bhushan to please admirers: Soumitra". The Times of India. 26 January 2004. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  59. ↑ "Padma Awards" (PDF). Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India. 2015. Archived from the original (PDF) on 15 November 2014. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  60. ↑ "Sarod master of 'mental riyaaz' Pt Buddhadev Das Gupta passes away". The Times of India. 16 January 2018. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  61. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1994) - Return Of Padma Award By Shri Anna Saheb Hazare" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  62. ↑ "I am not willing to negotiate with PM: Anna Hazare". Firstpost. 31 July 2012. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
  63. ↑ "Ramdev, Sri Sri decline Padma award". The Indian Express. 25 January 2015. Retrieved 20 June 2018.
  64. ↑ Mehta, Vimla; Mehta, Veerendra Raj (2004). Mother Teresa:Inspiring Incidents. Publications Division: Government of India. pp. 28–29. ISBN 81-230-1167-9.
  65. ↑ D'Monte, Darryl (2011). Dharker, Anil (ed.). Icons: Men and Women Who Shaped India's Today. Roli Books Private Limited. p. 52. ISBN 978-81-7436-944-4. Archived from the original on 9 June 2016.
    • Deshpande, Neeta (11 February 2008). "The Good Life". Outlook. Archived from the original on 20 November 2015. Retrieved 20 November 2015.
  66. ↑ Birla, Krishna Kumar (2007). Brushes with History. Penguin-Random House India. ISBN 978-0-143-06662-0.
  67. ↑ "Telegraph India". Telegraph India. 14 August 2014. Retrieved 27 June 2018.
  68. ↑ Chavan, Vijay (26 January 2016). "Sharad Joshi's family refuses Padma award". Pune Mirror. The Times of India. Archived from the original on 20 February 2017. Retrieved 19 February 2017.
  69. ↑ 69.0 69.1 "Rajya Sabha Debates (1969) - Return of Padma Bhushan Awards" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 18 June 2018.
  70. ↑ Kumar, A. Prasanna (1983). "The Privilege of Knowing M. C.". Triveni: Journal of Indian Renaissance. Vol. 52. Triveni Publishers. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016.
  71. ↑ "Poet Surjit Patar to return Padma Shri". The Tribune (Chandigarh). 8 December 2020. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  72. ↑ "Rajya Sabha Debates (1990) - Returning of decorations by IPKF Officers" (PDF). Government of India. Retrieved 19 June 2018.
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