Nilesh Mandlewala was named alongside distinguished individuals for his immense contribution in

the field of social service & organ donation awareness.

May 2026: Organ Man of India, “Nilesh Mandlewala” has been conferred with the prestigious “Padma
Shri” award by President Smt. Droupadi Murmu at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony of Padma
Awards 2026 held at Ganatantra Mandap, Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi.

Honoured for his immense contribution in the field of social service and organ donation awareness,
Nilesh received one of the country's highest civilian awards amid loud applause.
Present at the event were Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Vice
President C. P. Radhakrishnan and many other dignitaries.

Nilesh Mandlewala said, "I am really thankful and grateful that the Indian government has awarded me
the Padma Shri award. I have been working for the past 2 decades, and people around me, including my late
parents, family, friends, social organizations, organ donors and their family members, hospitals and doctors of
Surat, forensic doctors of SMIMER and Civil Hospital, Surat City Police, CISF, all volunteers, staff members,
and trustees of Donate Life have contributed to my journey.

He added, “This is not just my achievement, but it belongs to everyone else who made me. Receiving the
award from the President is in itself a great achievement."

Nilesh Mandlewala, widely known as the “Organ Man of India” has devoted nearly two decades to
promote organ donation with a vision that by 2047 no Indian should die due to organ shortage. Starting
his mission in 2005 and later founding Donate Life in 2014, he has helped facilitate over 1380 organ
and tissue donations, giving new life and vision to more than 1270 people across India and globally.

Even during the COVID-19 pandemic, he enabled 203 donations from Surat alone, while his awareness
campaigns have reached over 100 million people, helping Surat gain recognition as an “Organ Donor
City.” Additionally, Nileshbhai has also been honored with more than 70 awards by various national and
international organizations, including the prestigious “Gujarat Gaurav Award,” the highest civilian honor of
the Government of Gujarat.