Padma Shri: in the field of Art-Literature 

Noted English writer Gita Mehta has declined the Padma Shri award, after being named as one of the 94 awardees citing political reasons. 

About her: 

• Books authored: A notes English writer, she has authored several books in English including, Karma Cola, Raj, A River Sutra, Snakes and Ladders: Glimpses of Modern India, and Eternal Ganesha: From Birth to Rebirth. 
  
  
• Family: 
  • She is the daughter of Biju Patnaik, an Indian independence activist and former Chief Minister of Odisha. Her younger brother Naveen Patnaik has been the Chief Minister of Odisha since 2000. 
    
    
  • She is married to Mr Ajay Singh ‘Sunny’ Mehta, who is the editor-in-chief of A. Knopf Publishing group, famous for publishing biographies of Noble prize, Pulitzer prize, Booker prize winners and Political and religious world leaders. 
    
    
  
  
  
• Awards: She was selected as one of the recipients of India's fourth highest civilian award the Padma Shri in 2019, for her contribution in the field of literature.