Dehradun: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Shri award on Radha Bhatt from Uttarakhand for her contributions to social work, and on Hugh Gantzer and the late Colleen Gantzer for their work in literature and education, during the Civil Investiture Ceremony held in New Delhi.
Radha Bhatt, a renowned social worker from Uttarakhand, was honored with the Padma Shri. She joined Sarla Behn’s ashram at the age of 16 and later founded the Berinag Gram Swarajya Mandal to implement social and economic development programs. She actively participated in the Chipko Movement in 1975.
Hugh Gantzer and his late wife Colleen Gantzer, who were also honored with the Padma Shri, are well-known travel writers from Uttarakhand. Hugh is a retired Indian Navy officer, having served as a Commander. After retiring from the Navy, the couple pioneered a distinctive style of travel writing. Together, they authored over 3,000 articles, columns, and magazine features, and wrote more than 30 books.
“The Padma Shri recognition of Radha Bhatt for social work and of Hugh and Colleen Gantzer in the field of literature and education is a matter of great pride for the state of Uttarakhand.”
— Pushkar Singh Dhami, Chief Minister
