Padma Bhushan Award 1964

Among 1964's 18 Padma Bhushan recipients was Sheikh Abdullah, the Kashmiri political leader, honored under literature and education despite his primarily political career. Novelist R. K. Narayan, classical performer Bal Gandharva, and neurosurgery pioneer Jacob Chandy were also recognized. Tribhuvandas Patel, co-founder of the Amul dairy cooperative, represented social work. As the earliest of this stretch of years, 1964's relatively small list mixed literary giants, medical pioneers, and a rare political figure, unlike the arts-and-science-heavy rosters of later years.

The Padma Bhushan is the third-highest civilian award in the Republic of India, preceded by the Bharat Ratna and the Padma Vibhushan and followed by the Padma Shri. Instituted on 2 January 1954, the award is given for "distinguished service of a high order, without distinction of race, occupation, position or sex".