India's Civilian Awards: A Visual History by Hindustan Times

Since 1954, the Indian government has been conferring its highest honours — from the venerable Padma Shri to the exclusive Bharat Ratna — on bureaucrats, artists, scientists, engineers, sporting heroes, and political icons.

Taken together, the 4,329 awards paint a picture of India’s recent history and tell a story about the country’s values and priorities.