A welcome change from the past

The inclusion of Sania Mirza in the list of this year's Padma Shri awardees is being questioned in certain quarters. Critics argue that she is too young for the honour.
But why should age go against her? At 19, she has achieved a position no Indian, and certainly no woman sportsperson, has ever reached even after playing for decades.
Her rise from rank 206 to 31 within a year has been meteoric.The reward is commensurate. If it makes her the youngest Padma Shri in India, so be it.
It represents a welcome change from the past when stalwarts like Ravishankar and Satyajit Ray were honoured at the fag end of their careers, and only after they had won international acclaim.
Even then, there were rivals kicking up a fuss. Fortunately, no sportsperson has reacted churlishly. It's a sign of national maturity.
The large number of our posthumously decorated 'jewels' ��� Sardar Patel, B R Ambedkar, Maulana Abul Kalam Azad, Jayaprakash Narayan ��� suggested that India's heroes belong to the past. Not any longer.
The Padma Shri for Sania Mirza suggests a paradigm shift, stemming from the realisation that a young awardee is more likely to outperform herself. An older recipient would rather rest on her laurels.
It will send out a positive message to millions of young Indians, forming the larger part of our population, that talent is being recognised and that every national honour is within their grasp. You can be a CEO at 30, and a Padma Shri even earlier.
In an increasingly competitive world, nothing can galvanise national effort better than role models for common citizens who have demonstrated excellence.
They are an inspiration to other citizens to improve performance and consolidate national gains. Today, Sania Mirza is not just a sports icon but a role model for youth and particularly women. The Padma Shri for Sania reaches out to them.