CHENNAI: Actor R Parthiban recently honoured Chennai Corporation sanitation worker S Padma (48) at a private college event, appreciating her honesty in returning lost gold jewellery. A video of Parthiban performing a foot-washing ceremony for Padma and later presenting her with a saree and footwear has since gone viral.
The incident dates back to January, when Padma earned widespread praise for returning 45 sovereigns of gold jewellery worth several lakhs, which she found while cleaning the streets of T Nagar.
Padma, who works as a sanitation worker in the locality, was sweeping Muthamman Koil Street on Sunday (January 15) when she noticed an ice-cream box lying on the road. “I initially thought it was a box of curd rice that I could take home and eat. However, when I opened it, I realised it was gold,” she told DW Tamil. Padma and her husband immediately reported the matter to the police, who later returned the jewellery to its rightful owner, a jeweller who had accidentally left it on a pushcart.
Actor Parthiban later shared a post on X reflecting on how the rising value of gold contrasts with the diminishing value placed on human dignity. He wrote that as the value of gold keeps rising, human dignity keeps diminishing. When the price of one gram of gold approaches one lakh rupees, the killing of lakhs of lives becomes inevitable. Praising Padma’s integrity, he described her as a truly noble person and said he had “crowned” her the “World Beauty”.
Padma’s honest act drew appreciation from various quarters. Chief Minister MK Stalin felicitated her and presented a cheque for Rs 1 lakh, while actor Rajinikanth met her at his residence and honoured her with a gold chain.
