The Padma Shri Awards 2026 have honoured three outstanding individuals from the Northeastern region, recognising their lifelong contributions to indigenous culture, traditional knowledge and social service. The awards highlight how community-based efforts can preserve heritage while supporting sustainable development.

Living Root Bridges: Nature as Architecture

• Hally War, a resident of Siej village in Sohra, Meghalaya, has been awarded for preserving the art of crafting living root bridges, locally known as Jingkieng Jri.
• For over 50 years, he has guided the aerial roots of the Ficus elastica (rubber fig) tree to form naturally growing bridges across streams in the Khasi Hills.
• His notable work includes the Umkar Living Root Bridge, with a rare double-decker bridge currently under construction.
• These bridges, found mainly in the Khasi and Jaintia Hills, are on UNESCO’s tentative World Heritage list, symbolising indigenous ecological wisdom and climate-resilient infrastructure.

Manipur’s Spiritual Music Tradition

• The posthumous Padma Shri was conferred on Yumnam Jatra Singh, a revered Nata Sankirtana guru from Manipur.
• Nata Sankirtana is a classical devotional music and dance tradition, central to Manipuri Vaishnav culture.
• Singh devoted his life to preserving and teaching this tradition and was associated with the Jawaharlal Nehru Manipur Dance Academy.
• His recognition reinforces India’s commitment to safeguarding intangible cultural heritage.

Social Service from Arunachal Pradesh

• Techi Gubin, President of the Arunachal Vikas Parishad, received the Padma Shri for social service.
• A former government architect, he has worked extensively for tribal welfare, rural development and community upliftment, embodying the spirit of selfless service.

Exam Hook – 

Consider the following statements:

1. Living root bridges are bio-engineered structures unique to parts of Meghalaya.
2. Nata Sankirtana is a classical devotional tradition associated with Manipur.
3. Padma Shri is awarded only for contributions in science and technology.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
Answer: 1 and 2 only

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