2. Sonal Mansingh

Renowned for her Odissi dancing style, Sonal Mansingh is an eminent Indian Classical dancer.Her dancing career started in 1962. Sonal Mansingh founded the Centre for Indian Classical Dances in New Delhi. Sonal Mansingh was honored with the Padma Bhushan in 1992. In 1987, she was awarded the Sangeet Natak Akademi Award. While Sonal Mansingh received the Padma Vibhushan (India’s second highest civilian award) in 2003. She was one of the “Navratnas” nominated by Prime Minister Modi for the Swachh Bharat Abhiyaan. The iconic cultural personality of India was conferred with the Doctor of Science (Honoris Causa) by G.B. Pant University and Doctor of Literature (Honoris Causa) by the Sambalpur University.