Mumbai, Jan 26 (Reporter) Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar on Friday congratulated the 12 Padma awardees from the state and expressed confidence that the younger generation will follow in their footsteps and continue to raise the state's profile in the country."Accomplished people make any state known. Maharashtra has given famous people to the country till date. Everyone who has received the award today has dedicated his life to public welfare. The honour bestowed on the 12 distinguished people from Maharashtra is a source of pride and happiness for all," Pawar said in his message.Pawar said Maharashtra's Padma award winners have raised the profile of the state in the country. Expressing confidence that the awardee will continue to serve the public as a source of inspiration, he exuded confidence that the younger generation will follow their example and make the state great. Six Padma Bhushan awardees and an equal number of Padma Shri recipients hail from the western state. Among those awarded Padma Bhushan are Hormusji Kama (literature-education-journalism), Ashwin Mehta (medicine), Ram Naik (public affairs), Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt (art), Pyarelal Sharma (art) and Kundan Vyas (literature-education). Padma Shri award recipients from the state are Uday Deshpande (sports), Manohar Agoye and Chandrasekhar Meshram (medicine), Zaheer Kazi (literature and education), Kalpana Morparia (industry and trade) and Shankar Baba Papalkar (social work)...////...