Bihar: Padma Shri for noted economist late Shaibal Gupta, Jain spiritual leader Chandanaji

PATNA: Noted economist late Shaibal Gupta and Acharya Chandanaji have been selected for Padma Shri award.
According to the list of Padma awards, announced by the ministry of home affairs on the eve of Republic Day on Tuesday, Shaibal has been conferred with the award posthumously 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. 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, 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.
Acharya Chandanaji, 84, was born in Maharashtra but spent a major part of her life in Bihar doing social work. Acharya Chandanaji, fondly called ‘Tai Maharaj’, had founded Veerayatan, a religious organisation 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.
Governor Phagu Chauhan and CM Nitish Kumar have expressed delight over conferment of Padma Shri awards to Shaibal and Acharya Chandanaji. In a statement, Nitish said he was delighted over Shaibal being honoured with the Padma Shri award for his valuable contribution in the field of literature and education. The CM also congratulated Acharya Chandanaji.
Elated over the conferment of Padma Shri award to her father, 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. This honour will be a befitting tribute to him.”