Multiple business leaders have been honoured in the 2026 Padma Awards announced on Republic Day eve, with Kotak Mahindra Bank founder Uday Kotak receiving the Padma Bhushan for his contributions to trade and industry. As per Moneycontrol, three industry pioneers have been awarded the Padma Shri - DAS Offshore Engineering MD Ashok Khade, Solar Industries India founder Satyanarayan Nuwal, and TTK Prestige chairman emeritus TT Jagannathan (posthumous). Among the eight personalities from Karnataka featured in the awards list, TT Jagannathan's posthumous recognition highlights his transformative impact on India's kitchen appliance industry and his role in building a billion-dollar enterprise.
TT Jagannathan, known as the Kitchen Mogul, has been posthumously awarded the Padma Shri for his significant contributions to trade and industry. Jagannathan passed away in October 2025 at age 77, leaving behind a remarkable legacy that revolutionized Indian kitchen appliances and established Prestige as a household name beyond India's borders. An IIT Madras gold medallist with a PhD in operations from Cornell University, he returned to India in the early 1970s and, still in his 20s, took charge of TTK Prestige, serving on the company's board for 50 years. The Hindu reports that he was the longest-serving director/chairman in the company's history and was instrumental in transforming the company to reach a market cap of over one billion dollars.
When faulty pressure cookers sparked safety fears in the late 1970s, Jagannathan developed the GRS safety mechanism — a revolutionary safety valve that enhanced product safety standards and restored consumer confidence across the industry. This innovation became central to his recognition for the Padma Shri award. Safety became central to Prestige's positioning under his leadership, with a 1980s TV commercial featuring the memorable jingle 'Jo biwi se kare pyaar, woh Prestige se kaise kare inkaar'. The campaign linked a husband's concern for his wife with kitchen safety, turning a functional appliance into a symbol of trust and modern living.
Under Jagannathan's strategic vision, TTK Prestige evolved from a traditional pressure cooker manufacturer into a comprehensive kitchen solutions brand. He played a key role in turning around the TTK Group and making it debt-free, steering the company from near-bankruptcy to global expansion. He launched Manttra in the US and acquired UK-based Horwood Homewares, with Manttra now being the top-selling Indian brand in US stores, holding over 40% market share. Beyond business achievements, his influence extended to healthcare, sanitation, and education sectors, and he authored "Disrupt And Conquer - How TTK Prestige Became A Billion Dollar Company," sharing insights into his transformative leadership journey.
Shatavadhani R. Ganesh is the only Karnataka personality to receive the Padma Bhushan in the Art category for reviving and mastering Avadhana, an ancient art form requiring exceptional focus and literary skills. Among other Padma Shri recipients, former Prasar Bharati CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati has been recognized for media contributions, having served as the youngest person and first non-civil servant to head Prasar Bharati during his five-year tenure from 2017. Prabhakar Basavprabhu Kore, the 78-year-old former KLE Society chairman, transformed the organization from 30 educational institutions in 1985 to 316 schools, colleges and hospitals with over 18,000 staff and 1.45 lakh students. As per The Hindu, social activist Susheelamma, who established Sumangali Seva Ashrama in October 1975, expressed that the award was a result of 'divine grace and the goodwill of the people' for her work with abandoned women and orphaned children.
