Yoga grandma Nanammal receives Padma Shri

Coimbatore: Coimbatore’s own 98 years old yoga grandma Nanammal was conferred Padma Shri by President Ramnath Kovind at Delhi yesterday. Including Nanammal, 84 eminent personalities were conferred Padma awards yesterday.

Nanammal was conferred Padma Shri award for teaching yoga to thousands of students from different age groups and also for creating awareness about traditional food practices amongst students. 

Besides Nanammal, seven other personalities from the State received the Padma awards yesterday. Music Director Ilayaraja was conferred Padma Vibushan award by the President. R Nagaswamy, the 88 years old archaeologist, was awarded Padma Bhushan. Romulus Whitaker, wildlife conservationist; Professor Rajagopalan Vasudevan, the plastic man of India; Vijayalakshmi Navaneethakrishnan, folk singer and composer and Nanammal were awarded Padma Shri at the ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan yesterday.

Several unknown personalities who contributed to the development of society were conferred Padma awards yesterday. Vice-president Venkiah Naidu, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Lok Sabha Speaker Sumitra Mahajan and several other ministers were also present during the function.