Prof. Govind Chandra Pande presented Padma Shri award

New Delhi, April 26 (ANI): Professor Govind Chandra Pande was presented the Padma Shri award at his residence on Monday, following his absence at the Awards Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan here on March 31on account of personal reasons.

"Prof. Govind Chandra Pande, recipient of Padma Shri award for the year 2010 could not attend the Awards Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on March 31, 2010 on account of personal reasons. In terms of extant guidelines in the matter, the decoration of the award to such awardees, residing at Delhi, who are not able to attend the ceremony, is to be delivered personally by an officer in MHA," a Ministry of Home Affairs release here stated on Monday.

"Accordingly, the decoration of the award of 'Padma Shri' which comprises a Sanad (certificate) signed by the President and a medallion were delivered to Prof. Govind Chandra Pande on April 23, 2010 at his residence by A.E.Ahmad, Secretary (BM), Ministry of Home Affairs," it further stated.

Govind Chandra Pande is a well-known historian of the Vedic and the Buddhist periods. He has served a professor of ancient history and vice-chancellor at Jaipur and Allahabad universities.

He has also served as the chairman of the Indian Institute of Advanced Study, Shimla for several years, the Chairman of Allahabad museum Society and the Chairman of Central Tibetan Society, Sarnath Varanasi.

He has edited several volumes of ancient history in Project of History of Indian Science, Philosophy and Culture.

His most recent work (in June 2008) is a translation and explanation of the Rigveda in Hindi.(ANI)