Bhagat Singh Koshyari, former Chief Minister of Uttarakhand and former Governor of Maharashtra, was awarded the Padma Bhushan at a ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi on Monday.
Bhagat Singh Koshyari was conferred the Padma Bhushan by President Draupadi Murmu for his outstanding and notable contributions in the field of public affairs.
Bhagat Singh Koshyari is a distinguished social worker, educationist, journalist, and dedicated nationalist leader. Koshyari is also known for his simplicity, discipline, and political experience.
In 1966, Bhagat Singh dedicated himself completely to educational and social service. He established the “Saraswati Shishu Mandir” in the border district of Pithoragarh, expanding education in remote areas. He also played a key role in the establishment of the “Vivekananda Inter College” in Pithoragarh.
He served as a departmental secretary of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) for a long time and later became the secretary of the Uttaranchal (now Uttarakhand) Utthan Parishad. He also published a Hindi weekly from Pithoragarh. During the Emergency, he was arrested under MISA.
After the formation of the state of Uttarakhand in November 2000, he became a cabinet minister in the state’s first government. He subsequently assumed office as Chief Minister of Uttarakhand.