This story is from January 25, 2022

Bihar: Padma Shri awards to Shaibal Gupta & Rajgir's Veerayatan founder Acharya Chandanaji

Bihar: Padma Shri awards to Shaibal Gupta & Rajgir's Veerayatan founder Acharya Chandanaji
PATNA: Noted economist late Shaibal Gupta and Acharya Chandanaji have been conferred with the coveted Padma Shri award announced by the ministry of home affairs on the eve of Republic Day on Tuesday.
While Shibal has been conferred the award posthumous for his contribution in the field of literature and education, Acharya Chandanaji has been selected for the award in the category of social work.
The Padma awards are conferred by the President of India at ceremonial functions held at Rashtrapati Bhawan usually around March- April every year.
Shaibal passed away on January 28, last year at the age of 67 following prolonged illness. Besides being a renowned social scientist, he was widely known as an institution-builder, and establishment of Asian Development Research Institute (ADRI) at Patna was his most important achievement. He was the director of the Centre for Economic Policy and Public Finance (CEPPF), which has been set-up in ADRI by the Bihar government as a dedicated centre for research on public finance. He also worked on various research projects with the Institute of Development Studies, Sussex; International Labour Organisation; World Bank and London School of Economics.
84- years old Acharya Chandanaji on the other hand, was born in Maharashtra but she has spent a major part of her life in social work in Bihar. Acharya Chandanaji, also fondly called ‘Tai Maharaj’, is founder of Veerayatan, a religious organization based on the principles of Jainism, at Rajgir in 1973. She also became the first Jain woman to receive the title of ‘Acharya’ in 1987.
Chief Minister Nitish Kumar expressed delight over conferment of coveted Padma Shri awards to Shaibal and Acharya Chandanaji. In a statement issued by CM office on Tuesday evening, CM Nitish said he was delighted over Shaibal being honoured with the Pada Shri award for his valuable contribution in the field of literature and education. The CM also congratulated Acharya Chandanaji for conferment of Padma Shri award for her contribution in the field of social work.
Elated over the conferment of the coveted Padma Shri award, Shaibal’s daughter Ashmita Gupta told TOI: “It is a matter of great pride. He was extremely committed towards development of Bihar and dedicated his whole life towards nurturing a research culture in very adverse circumstances. His first death anniversary is on January 28 and this honour will be a befitting tribute to remember him. This honour gives all of us inspiration to carry forward his legacy."
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