The Padma Awards ceremony held on Wednesday (22 March) got emotional when the social worker Hirabai Ibrahim Lobi was conferred with the Padma Shri for her work in uplifting the tribal community.

Lobi won hearts at the ceremony when she stopped — on her way to receive the award from the President — in front of the Prime Minister and thanked him for the honour.

“Mere pyaare Narendra bhai, apne hamari jholi khushiyon se bhar di (Dear Narendra Bhai, you have filled our lives with happiness),” she said to the Prime Minister.

“My community lives in the jungles and no one takes stock of their living conditions. Such an honour was unthinkable for us,” she added.

Lobi belongs to the Siddi tribe and comes from the Jambur village of Junagadh, Gujarat. She is known for her work in the upliftment of women from her tribe, which traces its origins to Africa.

She is the president of the Adivasi Mahila Sangh, also known as the Siddi Women’s Federation. She has worked to provide education to tribal women and help them gain financial independence.

Lobi then went on to receive the award from the President of India Droupadi Murmu and casually put her hand on the President’s shoulder, a gesture received with smiles by everyone, including the President.

Padma Awards For The People

The Padma Awards — including Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan and Padma Vibhushan — are one of the highest civilian honours in the country.

Instituted in the 1950s, they are conferred to individuals with exemplary service in various fields such as arts, sciences and public affairs.

The list this year also included Raman Cheruvayal (a Kerala-based tribal reformer), Usha Barle (a Pandwani and Panthi art performer), Kamlesh Patel (founder of the Heartfulness movement), and Jaodhaiya Bai Baiga (prominent artist of Baiga paintings), among others.

Hirabai Lobi

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