It is an established procedure that before the announcement of the name for such civilian honours, the government seeks the consent of the prospective awardees. If anyone conveys any objection or shows unwillingness, he or she is not named.
Gokhale said that we in India got freedom in alms as it was 'given'. He said many freedom fighters were hanged and the bigwigs at that time didn't try to save them and remained mute spectators, he said.
In a stark contrast to previous governments where the Padma awards were given to elites of Lutyen's Delhi, the Modi govt has been honouring unsung heroes from faraway villages of India.