Spiritual guru Sri Sri Ravi Shankar and Yoga guru Baba Ramdev on Saturday declined to accept Padma Awards, saying the honor could be given to someone else.
Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, the founder of Art of Living (operates in about 152 countries) declined to accept the Padma award, saying it could be given to someone else.
As indicated by an announcement issued by Art of Living, Sri Sri Ravi Shankar told Rajnath Singh over telephone: “I thank the government for considering me for the Padma honor. There are numerous other meriting individuals. Rather than me, I would like them to honor someone else.”
Baba Ramdev also declined India’s second highest civilian award (Padma Vibhushan), saying that while he was appreciative for being picked for the honor it ought to be given to another person and not a “sanyasi”.
“I am a “sanyasi” and want to serve the nation without expecting anything,” he said
In a letter to Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, he said he was thankful that the Central Government thought about his name, which he got to know from media reports, however the honor could be given to some other great person.
