Mon Jan 26 04:48:13 UTC 2026: ### Padma Shri Award Bestowed Posthumously on Folk Dancer Vishwa Bandhu
The Story:
Iconic folk dancer of Bihar, Vishwa Bandhu, has been posthumously selected for the Padma Shri award, India’s fourth-highest civilian honor. Family members and disciples have expressed their happiness at the recognition, though lamenting that it did not come during his lifetime. Bandhu dedicated his life to art, innovating Bihar’s traditional dance forms and giving over 6,000 performances while also offering free training to empower rural communities.
Key Points:
* Vishwa Bandhu, a folk dancer from Bihar, posthumously awarded the Padma Shri.
* His family and disciples expressed joy and wished he had received the award during his lifetime.
* Bandhu is one of three people from Bihar receiving Padma Awards in 2026.
* He innovated traditional Bihari folk dances, adding creativity and modern elements.
* Bandhu performed over 6,000 times and provided free training to empower rural communities.
* Agriculture scientist Gopalji Trivedi and Bhojpuri folk singer Bharat Singh Bharti are the other recipients from Bihar.
Key Takeaways:
* The Padma Awards continue to recognize individuals contributing significantly to arts and culture.
* Posthumous awards highlight the importance of recognizing contributions, even after the artist’s passing.
* Vishwa Bandhu’s impact extended beyond performance, including community empowerment through free training.
First Piper 