Archive · 14 Aug 2026
Farokh Engineer still waiting for his 1973 Padma Shri award
Farokh Engineer used to play cricket for India a long time ago.
He was a wicketkeeper, the player who catches the ball behind the batter.
In 1973, newspapers said the Government of India had chosen him to receive a special award called the Padma Shri.
The Padma Shri is one of India's highest civilian honors.
But Mr. Engineer, who is now 88 years old and lives in England, says he never actually got the award.
He never received a letter or a phone call from the government about it.
The official Padma Awards website still lists his name as a winner from 1973.
He has told important people about the problem, including the head of the International Cricket Council, who said he would help.
India's cricket board, the BCCI, says it will write to the government to ask about the missing award.
Mr. Engineer hopes he will receive it soon, because it means a lot to him and he would love to frame it.
Farokh Engineer, 88, says he was announced as a Padma Shri recipient in 1973 but has never received the award or any official communication in 53 years.
The former India wicketkeeper, who played 46 Tests between 1961 and 1975 and now lives in England, first learned of the honour through newspapers.
The Padma Awards website still lists Engineer's name among the 1973 awardees, but what happened afterward is unclear.
Engineer says he informed the late Arun Jaitley and recently wrote to ICC Chair Jay Shah, who said last month that he would help.
The BCCI plans to write to the government about the matter, while the Ministry of Home Affairs did not respond to a query.
- Who
- Farokh Engineer, an 88-year-old former India Test wicketkeeper now living in England, with the BCCI and the Government of India also involved.
- What
- Engineer claims he was announced as a Padma Shri awardee in 1973 but never received the award or any official intimation about it.
- When
- Announced in 1973; he is still waiting more than 53 years later.
- Where
- The award comes from the Government of India; Engineer resides in England.
- Why
- The reasons are unclear, as no communication was received. The BCCI now plans to write to the government to highlight his claims.
- Award
- Padma Shri (India's fourth-highest civilian award)
- Year announced
- 1973
- Waiting period
- More than 53 years
- Recipient's age
- 88 years old
- Tests played for India
- 46 (1961-1975)
- Current residence
- England
- Next step
- BCCI to write to the Government of India
- Government response
- No response from the Ministry of Home Affairs