Saturday 26 January 2013

Padma awards 2013 Andhra Pradesh




Padma award in science and engineering category-CDFD Director Dr Jayaraman Gowrishankar


Centre for DNA Fingerprinting and Diagnostics director and renowned scientist Dr 
Jayaraman Gowrishankar won the Padma award as he was instrumental for ground breaking 
research work in Microbiology and Genetics.
Dr Gowrishankar told this newspaper,”‘I am really happy to get Padma as it is a national 
award. I must credit this also to the research group of my institute who have contributed 
in all my work. I hope this award will not change my research and I will continue to work 
hard with the responsibilities,”
The research group lead by Gowrishankar has got first patenting from India on genetically 
engineered bacteria.  “While in CCMB we are able to obtain royalty by licensing the 
patent to a company. The institute could get 400 thousand dollars for ten years as 
royalty,”
He added,” I have done a medical degree but decided to get into research. We have worked 
on fundamental process by which bacteria grow and divide and to understand this bacterial 
growth to control infectious diseases and helping to know beneficial bacteria,”
Gowrishankar born in  Mysore in a military family hailing originally from Tamilnadu. In 
1983 January he joined CCMB and in 2000 he joined CDFD. For the past seven years he is 
working as CDFD director. His wife Dr Swarna Lata is a pathologist in Apollo Hospitals. 
One of his two sons Srinivasan holding law degree from National law School in Bengaluru 
is teaching for ‘Teacher for India’ Ngo. His younger son is doing final year Btech with 
IIT Mumbai.







GAJAM ANJAIAH

Gajam Anjaiah a renowned craftsman of Puttapaka Tie and dye silks was awarded Padmasri. 
He hails from Puttapaka village in Narayapuram mandal in Nalgolda Dist and ruled the 
world of weaving for more than three decades. Anjaiah’s father Narasimha was the first 
person to bring Telia Rumal technique to Puttapaka area from Chirala Area of Andhra 
Pradesh which had become extinct there now. Telia Rumals are produced with Traditional, 
Eco friendly Vegetable Dyes and switched over to Chemical Dyes.
Gajam Anjaiah told this newspaper ,”I am lucky enough to get award. The weaving skills 
have come to me hereditarily. I fondly remember by parents now. Padmasri has increased my 
self confidence. It is an award to all weavers. There is a general impression that 
weaving has no future. But there is a good future for this. The award increased my 
responsibility and I will work towards making more new designs,”
Gajam Anjaiah recently produced a  Silk saree with 16 Lucky Symbols depicted in the 
Literature of Jainism. Each symbol in the design carries special effect which brings 
religions significance to the saree which can be worn during important Festivals and 
Religious occasions. Another innovation is making of  Tie and Dye silk sarees with 108 
Astrological Symbols which has much more intricate designs. Each Astrological Symbol is 
depicted in a size of 2.25 inch space with all minute details. The process of 
transforming the paper design to fabric is much laborious and requires high degree of 
skill.
He was instrumental in innovating new designs and around 500 weaver’s families depend on 
him in Nalgonda and Mahabubnagar. He had participated in worlds crafts council meeting in 
Dauge South Korea. He earlier won National award for Master crafts persona and weavers in 
1987 and Sant Kabir award I 2010.


Dr Radhika Herzberger Director of Rishi Valley School was awarded Padmasri in Literature 

& Education. Mr M S Sailendran the administrative officer of Rishi Vally school says,”we 
are very honoured about it. She was in Chennai and travelling now. We couldn’t reach her. 
She is an educationalist directing the Rishi Valley school for several years. Dr Radhika 
is daughter of Ms Pupul Jayakar. Dr Radhika had written many books and she is on the 
educational boards of government,” Ms. Pupul Jayakar was an Indian cultural activist and 
writer.
Dr Radhika is also member of INTACH Hyderabad based heritage conserving society.
Rishi Valley School, started in a valley in Madanapalle in Chittoor district with the aim 
of providing holistic education to children and it has completed 81 years. The school was 
found by Jiddu Krishna murti which focuses on rural education, healthcare and 
environmental conservation.