At a glittering ceremony in Mumbai on Wednesday, Her Excellency Smt Pratibha Patil, the President of India, gave away the prestigious Maharashtrian of the Year awards for 2011. The President presented superstar Amitabh Bachchan with the Lokmat Maan Bindu Award and Dilip Kumar with the Lokmat Jeevan Gaurav (Lifetime Achievement) Award for their immense contributions to the world of cinema and entertainment. They received a trophy, a citation and Rs 5 lakh each.
The President also presented Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 awards to eight other illustrious Maharashtrians who had worked at the grassroots level, contributing immensely to the progress of Maharashtra.
The grand function of the awards was presided by over His Excellency Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, the Governor of Maharashtra. A veritable Who's Who of renowned celebrities and public figures from Media and various other walks of life turned up to applaud the winners for their selfless work and achievements.
In a heartfelt thank you address after receiving the award, the Big B expressed his gratitude to the punya bhoomi (venerable land) of Mumbai and Maharashtra, which, he said, "has given me everything that I received after getting my parents and education" in the "more than two-thirds of my life so far."
Thespian Dilip Kumar, one of the greatest Indian actors of all time, made a rare public appearance to accept the award from the President. Accompanied by his wife Saira Banu and welcomed by Vijay and Rishi Darda, the veteran actor graciously accepted the trophy and citation plaque from the President. Although he did not address the audience, the actor communicated his gratitude to the President, Lokmat Media Ltd and everyone present who gave him a standing ovation.
IBN Lokmat had crafted equisite audio visuals on both the great actors, along with all the 39 nominees and the eight eventual winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards.
The eight winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 for significant work and service in various areas were: Paromita Goswami from Nagpur for Social Service & Public Service; Dr Himmatrao Bavaskar from Mumbai for Science & Technology; Raju Shetty from Kolhapur for Politics; Hanmant Gaikwad from Pune for Business; Bandopant Rakhmaji Khedkar from Pune for Art; Kishor Kadam from Mumbai for Literature; Veerdhawal Khade from Kolhapur for Sports, and Sheikh Nasir-Sheikh Niyaz from Nashik for Entertainment
The winners received an individual citation, a trophy and a cheque for Rs one lakh as a token of Lokmat Media’s appreciation of their immense contribution to the progress of Maharashtra.
Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, MP Rajya Sabha and Chairman - Lokmat Media Limited, said, "The winners here today represent the best spirit of selfless and dedicated service to our glorious state, and truly deserve to be saluted with 'Jai Maharashtrian'. I am confident that receiving this high award from the Her Excellency Smt Pratibha Patil, the President of India, will inspire them immensely, and will also encourage others to emulate them." He thanked Her Excellency Smt Patil for having graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Mr Darda also thanked His Excellency Mr K Sankaranarayan, the Governor of Mumbai, for having presided over the awards function.
In her address to the gathering, President Pratibha Patil recalled the close links between journalism and the freedom movement and urged the media, particularly the film industry, to play a constructive role to root out such social evils as discrimination against women and alcoholism.
She congratulated the winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 awards and said that they had set an example for others to follow to make life more meaningful without alienating the healthy traditions of India.
She said the winners represent the forces of reform that can take society forward to make it more tolerant and inclusive, and thereby strengthen democracy.
The President pointed out that that this decade is considered the decade of Asia and we must take advantage of this opportunity and resolve the differences among us without hurting the robust democratic traditions that have been nurtured in our country. She cautioned the
media against the misuse of freedom and appealed for a sense of responsibility in mass communications.
For the 8 winners of the awards, it was a keen contest for the top honours amongst a final shortlist of 39 nominees, who were chosen through a process through a robust process that has involved senior editors and the editorial board of Lokmat and IBN Lokmat, and a stellar independent jury of eminent Maharashtrians. This independent jury comprised well known and respected Maharashtrians (in alphabetical order of first names) Dr. Achyut Godbole, Mr. Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mr. Dhanraj Pillay, Mr. Julio Ribeiro, Ms. Medha Patkar, Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai and Ms. Shobha De.
Also, in the true spirit of inclusiveness, they were helped by citizens' votes cast by SMS and Facebook.
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The President also presented Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 awards to eight other illustrious Maharashtrians who had worked at the grassroots level, contributing immensely to the progress of Maharashtra.
The grand function of the awards was presided by over His Excellency Shri K. Sankaranarayanan, the Governor of Maharashtra. A veritable Who's Who of renowned celebrities and public figures from Media and various other walks of life turned up to applaud the winners for their selfless work and achievements.
In a heartfelt thank you address after receiving the award, the Big B expressed his gratitude to the punya bhoomi (venerable land) of Mumbai and Maharashtra, which, he said, "has given me everything that I received after getting my parents and education" in the "more than two-thirds of my life so far."
Thespian Dilip Kumar, one of the greatest Indian actors of all time, made a rare public appearance to accept the award from the President. Accompanied by his wife Saira Banu and welcomed by Vijay and Rishi Darda, the veteran actor graciously accepted the trophy and citation plaque from the President. Although he did not address the audience, the actor communicated his gratitude to the President, Lokmat Media Ltd and everyone present who gave him a standing ovation.
IBN Lokmat had crafted equisite audio visuals on both the great actors, along with all the 39 nominees and the eight eventual winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year Awards.
The eight winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 for significant work and service in various areas were: Paromita Goswami from Nagpur for Social Service & Public Service; Dr Himmatrao Bavaskar from Mumbai for Science & Technology; Raju Shetty from Kolhapur for Politics; Hanmant Gaikwad from Pune for Business; Bandopant Rakhmaji Khedkar from Pune for Art; Kishor Kadam from Mumbai for Literature; Veerdhawal Khade from Kolhapur for Sports, and Sheikh Nasir-Sheikh Niyaz from Nashik for Entertainment
The winners received an individual citation, a trophy and a cheque for Rs one lakh as a token of Lokmat Media’s appreciation of their immense contribution to the progress of Maharashtra.
Vijay Jawaharlal Darda, MP Rajya Sabha and Chairman - Lokmat Media Limited, said, "The winners here today represent the best spirit of selfless and dedicated service to our glorious state, and truly deserve to be saluted with 'Jai Maharashtrian'. I am confident that receiving this high award from the Her Excellency Smt Pratibha Patil, the President of India, will inspire them immensely, and will also encourage others to emulate them." He thanked Her Excellency Smt Patil for having graced the occasion as Chief Guest. Mr Darda also thanked His Excellency Mr K Sankaranarayan, the Governor of Mumbai, for having presided over the awards function.
In her address to the gathering, President Pratibha Patil recalled the close links between journalism and the freedom movement and urged the media, particularly the film industry, to play a constructive role to root out such social evils as discrimination against women and alcoholism.
She congratulated the winners of the Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year 2011 awards and said that they had set an example for others to follow to make life more meaningful without alienating the healthy traditions of India.
She said the winners represent the forces of reform that can take society forward to make it more tolerant and inclusive, and thereby strengthen democracy.
The President pointed out that that this decade is considered the decade of Asia and we must take advantage of this opportunity and resolve the differences among us without hurting the robust democratic traditions that have been nurtured in our country. She cautioned the
media against the misuse of freedom and appealed for a sense of responsibility in mass communications.
For the 8 winners of the awards, it was a keen contest for the top honours amongst a final shortlist of 39 nominees, who were chosen through a process through a robust process that has involved senior editors and the editorial board of Lokmat and IBN Lokmat, and a stellar independent jury of eminent Maharashtrians. This independent jury comprised well known and respected Maharashtrians (in alphabetical order of first names) Dr. Achyut Godbole, Mr. Ashutosh Gowarikar, Mr. Dhanraj Pillay, Mr. Julio Ribeiro, Ms. Medha Patkar, Mr. Rajdeep Sardesai and Ms. Shobha De.
Also, in the true spirit of inclusiveness, they were helped by citizens' votes cast by SMS and Facebook.
Discuss
Tell a friend
Bury
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