Padma Award Winners 2025: Honoring Indian-Americans for Excellence
By Raj Shah
Presented annually on India’s Republic Day,these awards fall into three categories: Padma Vibhushan for extraordinary service, Padma Bhushan for distinguished service of high order, and Padma Shri for notable service in any domain.
“India’s President confers the awards during ceremonies held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March or April. This year, the President has approved 139 awards, including seven Padma Vibhushan, 19 Padma Bhushan, and 113 Padma Shri. ” The recipients include 23 women, 10 individuals from the Foreign/NRI/PIO/OCI categories, and 13 posthumous awardees.
“The Padma Awards, among India’s highest civilian honors, celebrate exceptional contributions across various fields.”
This year, the Padma Awards have recognized several Indian Americans and Canadians for their groundbreaking work in literature, science, and engineering. I reached out to each winner, and here are their inspiring stories and
responses
Arvind Sharma (Canada)–Literature and Education
The Padma Award recognized Arvind Sharma, a distinguished scholar in comparative religion and Hindu philosophy, for his immense contribution to literature and education. Sharma is a professor at McGill University, Canada. He has devoted decades to research and dialogue among religions. His areas of specialization include Hindu
traditions, religious pluralism, and the role of women in religious scriptures.
A holder of a PhD degree from Harvard University, Sharma has written and edited thousands of books that combine both Eastern and Western perspectives on religion. His book The Philosophy of Religion:
A Buddhist Perspective and the book Hinduism as a Missionary Religion have earned great mileage in terms of their academic credentials. His influences have extended far beyond academia to take his contributions further into the way religions, tolerance, and culture have shaped the discussions.
Accepting the Padma Award, Sharma said that this recognition was not only personal but a tribute to the global appreciation of Indian spiritual traditions.
Vinod Dham (USA)—Science and Engineering
The Padma Bhushan honors Vinod Dham, the “Father of the Pentium Chip,” for his significant contributions to semiconductor technology. An electrical engineer turned venture capitalist, Dham’s pioneering work at Intel revolutionized computing, making personal computers faster and more accessible.
Having been born in India, he pursued a master’s in electrical engineering in the USA, despite having only $8 to his name. His breakthrough came at Intel, where he led the development of the Pentium processor. Later, he played a crucial role in advancing Flash Memory technology.
Besides the engineering marvels, Dham has mentored several startups, which have contributed to the Silicon Valley innovation landscape. His journey is the epitome of the immigrant success story—humble beginnings to the top of the global technology hierarchy. Dham, in his acceptance speech for the award, credited his mother for encouraging
him and said his success was because of perseverance, vision, and a strong foundation in STEM education in India.
Ajay V. Bhatt (USA)—Science and Engineering
The Padma honor recognizes Ajay V Bhatt, the visionary behind the Universal Serial Bus (USB), for his transformative contributions to technology. A celebrated computer architect, Bhatt’s invention of the USB revolutionized how devices connect and communicate.
Born in Vadodara, Gujarat, he pursued his master’s degree in the USA, later joining Intel, where he spearheaded the development of USB technology. His innovation simplified data transfer, making it universally accessible across multiple devices. With 132 international patents, Bhatt’s impact on the tech industry is unparalleled.
Apart from his technical contributions, Bhatt has been an advocate for innovation and mentorship. He believes that the spirit of invention lies in simplifying complexities for everyday users. Reflecting on his award, Bhatt stated
that this recognition highlights India’s significant contributions to global technology and inspires future generations of innovators.
Nitin Nohria (USA)—Literary and Education
The Padma honor recognizes Nitin Nohria, the first foreign-born Dean of Harvard Business School, for his exceptional contributions to business education. A thought leader in management studies, Nohria has played a crucial role in redefining leadership and corporate responsibility.
Born in Rajasthan, he pursued an MBA in Mumbai before earning a PhD from MIT. He has authored several books, including Management: An Integrated Approach and The Handbook of Teaching Leadership. His work highlights the importance of ethical leadership and corporate accountability, arguing that moral principles, akin to the Hippocratic oath in medicine, should guide business decisions.
Nohria, a close associate of business leaders like Mukesh Ambani, made headlines in 2019 as the highest-paid dean of HBS. On receiving the Padma Award, he expressed deep gratitude, stating that his mission has always been to shape responsible and visionary leaders for the global economy.
Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan (USA)—Science and Engineering
The Padma award recognized Dr. Sethuraman Panchanathan, the Director of the US National Science Foundation, for his significant contributions to science and technology. An electrical and computer engineering leader, Panchanathan’s research has advanced artificial intelligence and human-centered computing.
Born in Chennai, he studied at IISc Bangalore and IIT Madras before earning his PhD in Canada. His career took him to Arizona State University, where he became Chief Research Officer, fostering innovation in assistive technologies and AI-driven.
When I congratulated Dr.Panchanathan through LinkedIn, he said “I am honored and humbled to receive this recognition. Such recognitions are a reflection of the strong support and contributions from many of my students,
colleagues, friends, and family members. I am deeply grateful to all of them. Looking forward to further strengthening the US-India S&T partnership for the benefit of both nations.”
His work continues to bridge scientific collaborations between India and the USA.
Stephen Knapp (USA)—Literary and Education
Stephen Knapp, known in spiritual circles as Sri Nandanandana Dasa, has dedicated his life to sharing the richness of Vedic culture and Sanatana Dharma with the world. Honored with the Padma Award, his journey spans over 40 years of deep research and spiritual practice, making ancient Indian wisdom accessible to a global audience.
A prolific author, Knapp has penned numerous books that explore Hindu philosophy, history, and its far-reaching influence. Titles like The Secret Teachings of the Vedas and Proof of Vedic Culture’s Global Existence reflect his unique approach—blending scholarly research with personal spiritual insights. His work bridges the gap between academic study and lived experience in the spiritual realm, not only educating but also inspiring.
I also congratulated Mr. Knapp via LinkedIn.
“I was not expecting this award, so it is a wonderful surprise to me. I’m very grateful to the government of India for extending such an award to me for the years of work and writing I have done to help spread the knowledge of Vedic culture and Sanatana Dharma. And I’m very grateful to all those who have helped me along the way, such as my own
spiritual master, Srila Prabhupada. Without that, I don’t know where I would be. Jai Shri Krishna.”
Knapp’s journey exemplifies the deep connections between India’s spiritual heritage and global scholarship.
Mr. Knapp has contributed a few articles to Desh Videsh magazine in the past. We have included his other article, “Self Defense in Vedic Dharma,” in this issue of Desh-Videsh Magazine.
About the Author:
A software engineer by profession, Indian culture enthusiast, ardent promoter of hinduism, and a cancer survivor, Raj Shah is a managing editor of Desh-Videsh Magazine and co-founder of Desh Videsh Media Group. Promoting the rich culture and heritage of India and Hinduism has been his motto ever since he arrived in the US in 1969.
He has been instrumental in starting and promoting several community organizations such as the Indian Religious and Cultural Center and International Hindu University. Raj has written two books on Hinduism titled Chronology of Hinduism and Understanding Hinduism. He has also written several children books focusing on Hindu culture and religion.
