AWARDS - 2015 JUNE June 1 * McCullum, Hesson honoured in Queen's Birthday Honours in New Zealand. ™> New Zealand cricket captain Brendon McCullum and Coach Mike Hesson were honoured with Officers of the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM). %® Their names were listed in the honours to mark the annual Queen Elizabeth II Birthday public holiday. * They were awarded for their part in leading New Zealand to the final of 2015 Cricket World Cup for the first time. *% Both have been the captain and head coach, respectively, of New Zealand since 2012. => The head of the New Zealand World Cup organizing committee, Therese Walsh was made a Dame Companion of the NZOM. About the New Zealand Order of Merit (ONZM) * The New Zealand Order of Merit award was instituted in 1996 by Elizabeth TI, Queen of New Zealand. The honour is conferred to recognise outstanding service of people that they did to the Crown and people of New Zealand in a clvil or military capacity. The New Zealand Order of Merit has five levels and they are "> Knight or Dame Grand Companion (GNZM). ® Knight or Dame Companion (KNZM/ DNZM). *» Companion (CNZM). > Officer (ONZM). *% Member (MNZM). * Atal Bihari Vajpayee Honored with Friends of Bangladesh Liberation War Award. %® Former Prime Minister of India Atal Bihari Vajpayee was set to be honored by Bangladesh for his outstanding support for the country’s independence from Pakistan in 1971 when he was a Lok Sabha member. *> Former Indian Prime Minister Indira Gandhi was the first to be honoured with award. ™® President Pranab Mukherjee also has received this award in 2013.June 2 % Suresh Kalmadi conferred with Asian Athletics Association President's award. ™® Suresh Kalmadi was conferred the Asian Athletics Association (AAA) President's award. » He was awarded for his contribution towards the development of athletics in Asian continent. * Adille Sumariwala, the President of Athletics Federation of India received the award on behalf of Kalmadi at the function held in Wuhan, China. > In March 2015, he was named as the Life President of AAA for his contribution for Asian athletics. = He has served as the President of Indian Olympic Association from 1996 to 2012. * Edward Snowden Awarded Freedom of Expression Prize In Norway. *% Edward Snowden, former US security contractor and electronic surveillance whistleblower won a Norwegian prize for freedom of expression. % The award was bestowed upon him by the Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression for his work protecting privacy and for shining a critical light on US surveillance of its citizens and others. About Norwegian prize for freedom of expression: *%> Norwegian prize for freedom of expression is also known as Bjornson Prize named after a Norwegian Nobel literature laureate. * It is given by Norwegian Academy of Literature and Freedom of Expression which promote understanding of cultures other than our own and for literary free speech. ® The award carries cash prize of 100,000 kroner (approximately US 14950 dollars). June 8 * 16" edi of the International I1 1 Academy (ITFA). »% 16" edition of the International Indian Film Academy (IIFA) informally known as the “Bollywood Oscars", was held in Malaysia. » The award ceremony was held In Putra Indoor Stadium Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. » Haider was awarded the most awards (09). Popular Awards »® Best Film: Queen. »% Best Director: Rajkumar Hirani ~ PK.» Best Actor In A Leading Role: Shahid Kapoor - Haider as Haider Meer. » Best Actress In A Leading Role: Kangana Ranaut - Queen as Rani Mehra. % Best Actor In A Supporting Role: Riteish Deshmukh - Ek Villain as Rakesh Mahadkar. »® Best Actress In A Supporting Role: Tabu - Haider as Ghazala Meer * Male Debutant Star: Tiger Shroff - Heropanti as Bablu. »%® Female Debutant Star: Kriti Sanon ~ Heropanti as Dimpy. *% Best Performance In A Comic Role: Varun Dhawan- Main Tera Hero as Seenu. % Best Performance In A Negative Role: Kay Kay Menon- Haider as Khurram Meer. *> Best Story: Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar, Parveez Shaikh- Queen. Special Awards » IIFA Award for Outstanding Achievement in International Cinema: Subhash Ghai. » IIFA Award for Entertainer of the Year: Deepika Padukone Musical awards Best Music Direction: 2 States ~ Shankat-Ehsaan-Loy. »> Best Lyrics: Galliyan from Ek Villain - Manoj Muntashir. % Best Male Playback Singer: Ankit Tiwarl for Galllyan ~ Ek Villain »% Best Female Playback Singer: Kanika Kapoor for Baby Doll ~ Ragini MMS 2. % Best Sound Design: Shajith Koyer! - Haider. ® Best Background Score: Vishal Bhardwaj - Haider. *» Technical awards Best Action: Parvez Shaikh & Andy Armstrong - Bang Bang. »% Best Special Effects; Reupal Rawal (Prime Focus) ~ Kick. »% Best Choreography: Ahmed Khan - Kick. » Best Cinematography: Binod Pradhan - 2 States. *% Best Costume Design: Dolly Ahluwalia ~ Haider. * Best Dialogue: Abhijat Joshi & Rajkumar Hirani ~ PK. > Best Editing: Anurag Kashyap & Abhijit Kokate - Queen. *% Best Makeup: Preetisheel Singh & Clover Wootton ~ Haider. » Best Production Design: Subrata Chakraborty & Amit Ray - Halder. *> Best Screenplay: Vikas Bahl, Chaitally Parmar & Parvez Shaikh - Queen. »® Best Sound Mixing: Debajit Changmal - Halder. »» Best Sound Recording: Eric Pillai for Galliyan ~ Ek Villain.June 10 ¥ Parkash Singh Badal conferred with Sant Namdev National Award. *> Punjab chief minister Parkash Singh Badal was conferred the prestigious 14" Sant Namdev National Award- 2015 for promoting peace, communal harmony and universal brotherhood at a function organised by the Sarhad foundation. % This award was bestowed upon Badal by Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis in the presence of the organisers of the Sarhad foundation. About Prakash Singh Badal ® Parkash Singh Badal is the longest-serving Chief Minister of Punjab with over 15 years in office. > Currently, he is heading Akali Dal-BJP coalition government. = He previously had served as CM for first time in 1970 to 1971. Later for second time from 1977 to 1980 and for third time from 1997 to 2002. "> He is generally regarded as the second most powerful Sikh leader in world after former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. In 2015, he was awarded with India’s second highest civilian award, Padma Vibhushan. June 11 x Indian-Origin Vivek Murthy Presented with Pride of Community Award. ® Indian-origin US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy has been presented with the Pride ‘of the Community Award by a prominent Hindu advocacy group. * Receiving the award by the Hindu American Foundation at its 12" Annual Day reception at Capitol Hill. * Para-athlete Devika Won Queen’s Yo Leaders Award. * Multiple-medal winner para-athlete, Devika Malik has been selected as one of the Queen’s Young Leaders Award winners from across all the Commonwealth Nations. "> She has received this award for the efforts made by the Wheeling Happiness foundation to build a more inclusive society for persons with physical, emotional and social challenges in India. ™® The Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust, in partnership with Comic Relief and The Royal Commonwealth Society has established the Queen’s Young Leaders Programme in honour of Her Majesty's long and continued service to the ‘Commonwealth.June 12 * Musicians, film-maker chosen for Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships. *% Sangeet Natak Akademi announced the names of recipients of Sangeet Natak Akademi fellowships (Akademi Ratna) 2014 and Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) 2014. The list of names selected for Sangeet Akademi Fellowships: ® R. Janakiraman (Musicologist) > S. Sathyu (film-maker) ® Vijay Kichlu (Classical singer) % Tulsidas Borkar (Musician) %> The fellowship of the Akademi is considered a rare honour and restricted to a small group at 4 given time, At present, there are 40 fellows. »> The General Council selected 36 artists from the fields of music, dance, theatre and puppetry for the Sangeet Natak Akademi Awards (Akademi Puraskar) for the year 2014. About Sangeet Natak Akademi: » Established in 1953, the Akademi is responsible for preservation and promotion of the performing arts in India. » It recognizes the contribution of outstanding musicians, dancers and theatre artists by bestowing them the Fellowships and Awards on yearly basis. ® Its aim is to create benchmarks in the practice of the performing arts. It has been bestowing Akademi Fellowship since 1954 and Akademi Award since 1952. % Britain to award medals to over 3,000 Ebola fighters. % Britain has created a new medal to recognise the bravery and hard work of people who have helped to tackle Ebola in West Africa. % The medal is set to be awarded to over 3,000 people who travelled from Britain to work in high risk areas to stop the spread of the disease. % This is the first time a medal has been created specifically to recognise those wha have tackled a humanitarian crisis. %® The medal will be awarded to military and civilian personnel who have been tackling Ebola on behalf of Britain in West Africa, including members of the armed forces, doctors and nurses from the National Health Service (NHS), laboratory specialists, members of the civil service.June 13 * Mani Ratnam to be honoured by New York museum. ® A prestigious museum will honour acclaimed Indian director Mani Ratnam with a special tribute, which has been "long overdue" for the "important filmmaker". > Ratnam, 59, will make a rare appearance at the Museum of the Moving Image for the tribute from July 31-August 2 during which three of his acclaimed films “Roj “Bombay” and “Dil Se” will be showcased. ® The series has been named “Politics as Spectacle: The Films of Mani Ratnam", as the museum considers him a director who makes thought provoking movies on political and social issues. About: * Political and social messages have always been an integral part of Mani Ratnam's movies. ® His movie Truvar was loosely based on Tamil Nadu's political icons M.G. Ramachandran and M. Karunanidhi, while his movie Aayudha Ezhuthu (Yuva in Hindi) talked about youth engaging in politics. His movies, Roja and Uyire (Dil Se in Hindi) were about terrorism, Bombay talked about religious tensions and Kannathil Muthamittal was about the Sri Lankan civil war. June 17 % Hindi writers Babusha Kohli, Upasana won 10" Naviekhan Award of Bharatiya Jnanpith. » 10 Navlekhan Award of Bharatiya Jnanpith was awarded to Hindi writers Babusha Kohli and Upasana. ® They were awarded for poem Prem Gilhari Dil Akhrot and novel Ek Zindagi Ek Ek Script Bhar respectively. * Naviekhan Award was instituted with an objective to award young authors writing in Hindi June 19 * C.N.R. Rao conferred with Japan's highest civilian award ‘Order of the Sun, Gold and Silver Star’. *% Eminent scientist C.N.R. Rao was conferred with Japan’s highest civilian award the Order of the Rising Sun, Gold and Silver Star. »» He was presented with the award by Japanese Ambassador to India, Takeshi Yag! for his outstanding contributions to science and Indo-Japanese science cooperation.About C.N.R. Rao (Chintamani Nagesa Ramachandra Rao): % N.R Rao is eminent scientist and world’s foremost solid state and materials chemists. ® He was first Indian scientist to reach the h-index of 100. = He is also an elected member of almost all scientific academies across the globe and had served as Chair of the Scientific Advisory Council to Prime Ministers of India. ® He Is also the Honorary President of Jawaharlal Nehru Centre for Advance Sclentific Research, Bengaluru and a former Chair of the Japan-India Science Council. Awards of C.N.R. Rao: ® In 2014, he was awarded with India’s highest civilian award of India Bharat Ratna along with cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar. "> He has been bestowed with about 70 honorary doctorates and also has received the highest civilian award from several nations. = Note: h-index also called the Hirsch index or Hirsch number is a tool that measures the productivity and impact of the published work of a scientist or scholar. June 20 % Historian-writer Ramachandra Guha selected for Japan's Fukuoka Prize. » Eminent Historian-writer Ramachandra Guha has been selected for Japan's Fukuoka Prize 2015 in the Academic category. © Apart from him Thant Myint-U (Grand Prize category) and Minh Hanh (Arts and Culture category) were also chosen for this edition of award. "> They have been selected for their outstanding contributions to academia, arts and culture across Asia. About Ramchandra Guha: ™ He is historian and writer. His research interests include social, political, environmental and cricket history. *% He also write as a columnist in various newspapers including The Telegraph and Hindustan Times and also pens for the magazines The Caravan and Outlook. % His famous bibliography: Gandhi Before India (2013), Patriots and Partisans (2012), Makers of Modern India (2010), India after Gandhi: The history of the world’s largest democracy (2007) ete. » Awards: Padma Bhushan (2009), Sahitya Akademi award (2014) for India After Gandhi.About Fukuoka Prize ® Established: in 1990 by the Japanese city of Fukuoka and the Yokatopia Foundation. %» It is an annual prize that honours the outstanding work of individuals or organizations in preserving or creating Asian culture Prize has three categories: Grand Prize, Academic Prize, and Arts and Culture Prize. ® The award ceremony is held in every year in September (which is also known as Asian Month in Fukuoka) along with the public forums by the prize winners. Winners of 2014 are Mohammad Yunus, Romila Thapar, Ashis Nandy and Mo Yan. June 21 * Sanjay Subrahmanyam selected for Sangitha Kalanidhi award for the year 2015. ® Renowned carnatic vocalist Sanjay Subrahmanyam was selected for the Sangitha kalanidhi award of the Madras Music Academy. > With this award, Subrahmanyan joined the league of stalwarts like Arlyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Lyer, M.L. Vasanthakumari and M. Balamuralikrishna, Musiri Subramania Iyer, Maharajapuram Viswanatha Iyer and others who received the award before turning 50. ™ Besides, during the meet the committee also decided to confer other awards like Sangita Kala Acharya and TTK Awards. ® Sangita Kala Acharya Award: G.N. Nagamani Srinath (vocalist), T.H. Subash Chandran (percussionist). %» ITK Award: Seshampatti Sivalingam (Nagaswaram artiste), Kamala Aswathama (Veena artiste). June 23 % Three Indians won inaugural Queen's Young Leaders Award in UK. % Ashwini Angadi, Devika Malik and Akshay Jadhao won the inaugural Queen's Young Leaders Award In the UK for taking the lead in transforming the lives of others and making a lasting difference in their communities. »® Ashwini Angadi was awarded for using her own experiences as a visually impaired student to lobby for more braille and audio books. She runs Belaku Academy in Bengaluru, offering education to disabled students from rural areas. % Akshay Jadhao won for his efforts in launching education and skills courses in the rural farming region of Vidarbha, Maharashtra."> While, Devika Malik was chosen for her Wheeling Happiness Foundation which promotes inclusion, raises funds for disabled people and promotes equality for those with disabilities. > The award does not come with any cash incentive, but offers each of the winners 4 year-long mentoring opportunity through an online course. About Queen's Voung Leaders Award: > Queen's Young Leaders Award was set up by Queen Elizabeth II to recognise exceptional young people from across the Commonwealth. > Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Trust presents this award to recognise young people from across the 53 countries of the Commonwealth who are taking the lead in transforming the lives of others. % NUSI honoured with Best Welfare Organisation 2015 Award. * India’s oldest and largest shipping trade union, National Union of Seafarers of India (NUSI) has been honoured with the ‘Best Welfare Organisation of the Year - 2015’ award. > The award was presented to Abdulaani Y Serang , NUSI general secretary by Koji Sekimizu, Secretary General of International Maritime Organisation at a function held in London. June 24 % UK-based philanthropist Benni Joseph Mavelil selected for V.K. Krishna Menon Award 2015. * Benni Joseph Mavelll, a UK-based philanthropist, was selected for the V.K. Krishna Menon Award in recognition of his outstanding professional and altruistic achievements, contributions and services to the community and wider multicultural society. ® At present, Mavelil Is a registered Manager and Director for the Ideal Fostering In Birmingham, United Kingdom. He Is originally from Koodalloor, Kerala. About V.K. Krishna Menon Award ® The V.K. Krishna Menon award is given to outstanding Indian patriots who served in the Diaspora and have been distinguished in various fields including science, literature, business, politics, diplomacy and philanthropy. *» The V.K. Krishna Menon Institute was established in 2006 to commemorate and facilitate the life, times and achievements of VK Menon. ® Tt awards people from India and diaspora from Asia for significant accomplishments in various fields.» Prakash chand jain won biren roy space science and design award. ™ Dr. Prakash Chand Jain, an eminent scientist at Defence Research & Development Laboratory, has won the prestigious Dr. Biren Roy Space Science and Design award. *% Governor of Karnataka Vajubhai Vala conferred the award to Dr Jain. ® Dr. Jain made outstanding contributions in space sciences through application to the country’s flagship programmes. ® Dr. Jain, an alumnus of IIT Roorkee, IIT Bombay and BOYSCAST (DST) fellow from Pennsylvania State University USA is highly accomplished and internationally known expert in the areas of structures technologies. % He is a fellow of Aeronautical Society of India and The Institution of Engineers (India). Currently he is also associated with Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi as AICTE INAE Distinguished Visiting Professor. June 25 x Sahitya Akademi confers Bhasha Samman on 4 Scholars. % Sahitya Akademi has conferred prestigious ‘Bhasha Samman’ on four scholars for their contribution to classical and medieval literature in various languages Recipients of Bhasha Samman. %® K. Meenakshi Sundaram: For her contributions to Classical and Medieval Literature (Southern). She was conferred with this award for year 2013. *% Acharya Munishwar Jha: For his contributions to Classical and Medieval Literature (Eastern). He was conferred with this award for the year 2014, He has made valuable contribution in the area of Sanskrit literature. * Charu Chandra Pande and Mathuradutt Mathpal: Jointly recognised for their work towards the enrichment of Kumauni. % About Bhasha Samman award: The award carries a cash prize of 4 lakh rupees along with an inscribed copper plaque and a citation. In case of joint winners, the monetary prize is equally shared between the winners. % Sahitya Akademi announces Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2015. % Sahitya Akademi has announced the Bal Sahitya Puraskar for year 2015. » In this edition of Bal Sahitya Puraskar, 5 novelists, 4 writers of short stories, and 3 authors of poetries, 11 writers for their contribution to children’s literature and 1 book of one-act play respectively.Recipients of Bal Sahitya Puraskar 2015: =» Novelist: Sowmya Rajendran (English), Nivditha Subramaniam (English), Tiren Boro (Bodo), Mukti Upadhyay ‘Baral’ (Nepali), Ramnath G. Gawade (Konkani) and Ramdeo Jha (Maithili). > Writers of short stories: Nayeem Kashmiri (Kashmiri), Krishna Kumar ‘Ashu’ (Rajasthani), Thokchom Thouyangba Meitei_ (Manipuri) and Janardhan Hegde(Sanskrit). > Poetry collections: Srikanta Saren (Santali), Tara Chand Kalandri (Dogri) and Sella Ganapathi (Tamil). » Total Contribution to Children’s Literature: Kartik Ghose (Bengali), Eli Ahmed (Assamese), T.S. Nagraja Shetty (Kannada), Dhiruben Patel (Gujarati), Leeladhar Hegde (Marathi), Sivadas (Malayalam), Sukhdev Madpuri (Punjab), Snehlata Mohanty (Odia), Chokappu Venkataramana (Telugu) and JethoLalwani (Sindhi). =» Book of one-act play: Bano Sartaj (Urdu). > About Bal Sahitya Puraskar award: It is instituted by the Sahitya Akademi. The award comprises 50,000 rupees along with a casket containing an inscribed copper plaque and a citation. % Sri Sri Ravi Shankar to Receive Colombia's Highest Civilian Award. ® Indian spiritual leader Sri Sri Ravi Shankar has been conferred with Colombia's highest civilian award, Orden de la Democracia Simon Bolivar en el grado de cruz Caballero. => He was bestowed with this award for spreading the message of peace in society, reducing stress, inter-mediation in war and combating violence through yoga and breathing exercises. About Sri Sri Ravi Shankar: ® Ravi Shankar was born as Ravi Shankar on 13 May 1956 in Papanasam, Tamil Nadu. > He is referred as Sri Sri (honorific) or as Guruji. > He is founder of humanitarian and educational NGO called Art of Living Foundation established in 1981. > The NGO aims to relieve individual stress, societal problems, and violence. ® Awards: Paraguay’s highest civilian award National Order of Merito de Comuneros (2012), Mongolia’s highest civilian award Order of the Pole Star (2006).June 27 * President conferred Punyabhushan Award on Prataprao Pawar. ® President Pranab Mukharjee conferred Punyabhushan Award on Prataprao Pawar, Chairman of Sakal Media Group (SMG) at Balgandharva Auditorium in Pune. > Pawar is the 27" recipient of the Punyabhushan award and his name was selected for the award by a committee led by scientist Raghunath Mashelkar. ® Besides, President also felicitated five veteran freedom fighters in the function. Punyabhushan Award: '> The Punyabhushan (Pride of Pune) constituted by Tridal, Pune is annually announced by the Punyabhushan Foundation with a view to commemorate the memory of Indian revolutionary martyrs Bhagat Singh, Sukhdev, and Rajguru. > It is awarded to an eminent personality from the field of art, music, culture, science, industry, social service, or sports in the city of Pune Maharashtra, India *> The award carries a memento and cash prize of 1 lakh rupees. » 26% Punyabhushan Award was presented to Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla for his contribution to the field of Medicine & Research. June 28 * Famous Writer Vishwanath Tripathi chosen for 28 Moorti Devi Award. » Veteran Writer Vishwanath Tripathi was selected for the 28" Moorti Devi Award for the year 2014 for his book Vyomkesh Darvesh. ® Vyomkesh Darvesh Is a lifetime story of Acharya Hazari Prasad Dwivedi. ® His other works include Lokwadi Tulsidas, Meera Ka Kavya, Desh ke is Daur Main, Kuch Kahaniyan Kuch Vichar, Ped Ka Hath, Jaisa Kaha Saka and Nagatlai Ka Gaon. About Moorti Devi Award: *% Moorti Devi award was founded by Bharatiya Jnanpith and is given away to the authors who have contributed in the field of contemporary creative writing in modern Indian languages. » It is presented annually for a contemplative and perceptive work which expresses, underlines and illumines human values rooted in the broad vision of Indian philosophy and cultural heritage. "> Books written in English and all Indian languages are considered for the Prize, which comprises a cash award of four lakhs rupees, a statue and a citation plaque.