Itanagar, May 25: President Droupadi Murmu conferred the Padma Shri on noted social worker and retired architect from Arunachal Pradesh, Techi Gubin, at the first Civil Investiture Ceremony held at Rashtrapati Bhavan, New Delhi on Monday.
Gubin is among the 113 distinguished personalities selected for the Padma Awards 2026 in recognition of his contributions to public service, social leadership and the preservation of indigenous faith and cultural heritage in the Northeast.
Among the dignitaries present at the ceremony were Vice President C P Radhakrishnan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah.
Born on November 1, 1964, Gubin completed his Bachelor of Architecture from Chandigarh College of Architecture in 1988. He began his professional journey as an assistant teacher before joining the Arunachal Pradesh Public Works Department (APPWD) in 1990. Over a career spanning nearly four decades, he served in several capacities in the state government and eventually retired as Chief Architect.
Apart from his professional career, Gubin has played a significant role in social and cultural organizations across Northeast India. Since 2000, he has been associated with the Arunachal Vikas Parishad (AVP), serving in various capacities including assistant general secretary, general secretary, vice president and president till February 8, 2026. He is presently serving as the vice president of Akhil Bharatiya Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram, an organization working for the welfare and development of tribal communities across the country.
Gubin also served as president of the Nyishi Indigenous Faith and Cultural Society (NIFCS), where he actively worked for the protection and promotion of the indigenous Donyi-Polo faith and traditional cultural practices in Arunachal Pradesh.
In 2010 and 2021, he organized and led the Seemant Darshan Yatra to remote border villages along China, Myanmar and Bhutan. Following these visits, he led delegations to meet national leaders in New Delhi and highlighted the security and developmental concerns of border residents, which reportedly contributed to the deployment of additional manpower in frontier areas.
He also served as the State Level Chairman for the Shri Ram Janmabhoomi Teerth Kshetra donation campaign, during which Arunachal Pradesh emerged as the highest donor state among the eight Northeastern states.
Gubin’s contributions have earned him several recognitions, including the O.N.E India Award presented by My Home India in 2022 and the India Leader Award from the Yadam Institute of Research in 2023.
Besides his social work, he has also contributed to regional cinema and cultural preservation. He was associated with the regional film Oyaa, which was adjudged the best regional film of the year in 2009.