Haryana Chief Minister Nayab Singh Saini on Tuesday, 23 June 2026, extended warm congratulations to Khemraj Sundriyal of Haryana on being conferred the Padma Shri — one of India's highest civilian honours — in the field of art. Saini praised Sundriyal's lifelong dedication to the preservation and promotion of folk art and culture, calling his contribution deeply inspiring.

Context

Posting in Hindi on X, Chief Minister Saini wrote: 'हरियाणा के श्री खेमराज सुंद्रियाल जी को कला के क्षेत्र में पद्मश्री सम्मान से अलंकृत होने पर हार्दिक बधाई एवं शुभकामनाएं।' ['Heartfelt congratulations and best wishes to Shri Khemraj Sundriyal of Haryana on being adorned with the Padma Shri honour in the field of art.'] He further noted that Sundriyal's 'sadhana, samarpan aur utkrisht karya' ['devotion, dedication and excellent work'] have given a new identity to India's artistic tradition.

Policy Backdrop

The Padma awards — comprising Padma Vibhushan, Padma Bhushan and Padma Shri — were instituted by the Government of India in 1954 and are announced annually on Republic Day. They recognise distinguished service across categories including arts, literature, science, public affairs and social work. The Padma Shri is the fourth highest civilian award and is frequently conferred upon folk and classical artists whose work sustains India's intangible cultural heritage.

Haryana has a rich tradition of folk performing arts, including Saang, Ragini, and a variety of craft forms that have been passed down through generations. State and central governments have periodically supported such practitioners through honours, grants and platforms at national cultural festivals.

Stakeholders and Impact

The recognition of a Haryana-based folk artist with a national civilian award draws attention to the state's living cultural traditions and the communities of practitioners who sustain them. Chief ministers across India routinely use public platforms such as X to highlight Padma recipients from their states, reinforcing regional contributions to the national cultural fabric.

For the broader community of folk artists and cultural practitioners in Haryana, such recognition at the national level can bolster visibility, attract institutional support, and inspire younger generations to engage with traditional art forms.

What's Next

The full annual Padma awards list, once formally published, will detail the specific field and citation for Khemraj Sundriyal's honour. State-level felicitation events and cultural programmes recognising Padma recipients from Haryana may follow, in keeping with past practice. The award also opens the possibility of Sundriyal's work receiving greater institutional backing and national platform exposure in the months ahead.