Scholastic India pays tribute to Padma Shri Awardees

New Delhi (India), November 27: Scholastic India is committed to nurturing young minds with an array of new releases with diverse themes and fresh and inspiring content. Its most recent release, ‘Padma Shri Awardees: Ordinary People, Extraordinary Lives’ pays tribute to twenty Padma Shri recipients who hail from ordinary backgrounds, yet have made an extraordinary impact on society. These men and women consist of environmentalists, martial art warriors, Paralympic champions etc. who have made an indelible mark with their contributions.

One such awardee is 79‐year‐old Tulsi Gowda, aka the ‘Encyclopedia of the Forest.’ Tulsi received the prestigious award barefoot at the Rashtrapati Bhawan, demonstrating her simplicity. Till date, she has planted over 1 Lakh trees, demonstrating her commitment to forest conservation. Another notable recipient is Laxman Singh, aka ‘The Water Warrior’ who resolved to transform his drought‐prone village in Rajasthan into a drought‐proof one. He developed the novel Chauka system for rainwater harvesting which not only sustained villages but also the flora and fauna in the region. Paralympic champion, Avani Lekhara, is India’s ace rifle shooter and a modern‐day Arjuna. Widely regarded as the Golden Girl of India, she has inspired many women to excel in sports. The Padma Shri Awardees book captures many such stories of empowerment and icons who have persevered to bring change despite many socio‐economic adversities and barriers.

Speaking about the launch, Mr. Neeraj Jain, MD Scholastic India says, “We are proud to play a role in immortalizing the stories of these Padma Shri awardees, ensuring that their legacies continue to inspire and motivate individuals to strive for excellence in their respective fields. The Commemorative Book is a tribute not only to the awardees but also to the spirit of innovation, dedication, and service that defines our nation. At Scholastic, we are always listening to School leaders and parents while curating our publishing list, and based on that we have also focused on two other important buckets, Hindi and mythology.”