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Indiantelevision.com marks another milestone as Sahyadri Navratna Puraskar 2002 a grand success
Nine eminent personalities who have helped shape Maharashtra in fields as diverse as sport and social work were feted at the first ever Godrej No 1 Sahyadri Navratna Puraskar 2002 held in Mumbai on Saturday, 27 April.
The venue of the honours was the Poolside, Juhu Centaur Hotel, Mumbai.
Organised by Mumbai-based television information and services company Indian Television Dot Com Pvt. Ltd., the Sahyadri Navratna Puraskar 2002 are the first of their kind instituted to recognise nine outstanding Marathi achievers from different walks of life such as film, music, theatre, television, sports, social work, business and media. DD Sahyadri supports these awards.
Those felicitated were –
Swar Ratna (for excellence in music) – Shri Sudhir Phadke
Chitra Ratna (for excellence in films) – Smt Sulochana
Seva Ratna (recognition of work rendered to the cause of people) – Shri Baba Amte
Ratna Darpan (for excellence in media) – Shri D B Karnik
Natya Darpan (for excellence in theatre) – Shri Vijay Tendulkar
Ratna Saurabh (for excellence in sport) – Shri Nandu Natekar
Ratna Vahini Yogadaan (recognition of outstanding Marathi television channel) – DD Sahyadri
Ratna Sharada – (recognition of achievement by a woman in any field) – Smt Prema Purao
Vaibhav Ratna – (recognition of outstanding achievement in industry/ business – Shri Rahul Bajaj
Former sheriff Nana Chudasama presented Baba Amte’s award to Shri Ramesh Kacholia, who handles Anandvan operations in Mumbai. Rahul Bajaj’s nephew Anant Bajaj accepted the Vaibhav Ratna on his behalf from Sabe TV vice chairman Markand Adhikari. Renowned film personality Rohini Hattangady accepted the Natya Ratna on behalf of Tendulkar, who was unable to attend the function due to ill health. Pt Jasraj presented the Swar Ratna to Sudhir Phadke, while the Chitra Ratna was presented to Sulochanabai by film producer Ramanand Sagar. Five retired directors of the Mumbai Doordarshan Kendra were present to give away the Ratna Vahini Yogadaan award to DDK Mumbai director Mukesh Sharma.
Former India cricket captain Ajit Wadekar presented the Ratna Saurabh to Nandu Natekar, while the Ratna Darpan was presented by newly appointed sheriff Kiran Shantaram and Maharashtra Times editor Bharatkumar Raut. The Ratna Sharada was awarded to Prema Purao by Maharashtra government cultural secretary Govind Swarup.
The three-hour ceremony was interspersed with entertainment programmes that highlighted the cultural and folk traditions of the state. The shows included typically Maharashtrian dance shows, mimicry items, and excerpts from the hugely popular music show on DD Sahyadri, Tak Dhina Dhin.
The show was hosted by well known television personalities Pradeep Bhide and Mrinal Kulkarni. The highlights of the evening were a lavani show by Pune based Shefali Lahoti and her group, typically Marathi shows like the Powada, Waghya Murali, Vasudev and Bharud and a farmers’ group dance as well as a scene enacted from the Dashavtar.
An esteemed jury panel of industry professionals and experts helped in short-listing the nominations for the various categories. The jury included –
Former India cricket captain Shri Ajit Wadekar
Maharashtra Times editor Shri BharatKumar Raut
Maharashtra Government Cultural Secretary Shri Govind Swarup
Theatre personality Shri Kamlakar Sontakke
Sabe TV Vice Chairman Shri Markand Adhikari
IMPPA President and Mukti Foundation President Smt Smita Thackeray
Film and TV personality Shri Sachin Pilgaonkar.
The award ceremony will be aired on May 1, 2002 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on DD-Mumbai terrestrial Marathi.
NEW DELHI: Hamdard Laboratories gathered a cross-section of India’s achievers in New Delhi on Friday, handing out the Hakeem Abdul Hameed Excellence Awards to figures who have left their mark across healthcare, education, sport, public service and the arts.
The ceremony, attended by minister of state for defence Sanjay Seth and senior officials from the ministry of Ayush, celebrated individuals whose work blends professional success with a sense of public purpose. It was as much a roll call of achievement as it was a reminder that influence is not measured only in profits or podiums, but in people reached and lives improved.
Among the headline awardees was Alakh Pandey, founder and chief executive of PhysicsWallah, recognised for turning affordable digital learning into a mass movement. On the sporting front, Arjuna Awardee and kabaddi player Sakshi Puniya was honoured for her contribution to the game and for pushing women’s participation onto bigger stages.
The cultural spotlight fell on veteran lyricist and poet Santosh Anand, whose songs have echoed across generations of Hindi cinema. At 97, Anand accepted the honour with characteristic humility, reflecting on a life shaped by perseverance and hope.
Healthcare honours spanned both modern and traditional systems. Manoj N. Nesari was recognised for strengthening Ayurveda’s place in national and global health frameworks. Padma shri Mohammed Abdul Waheed was honoured for his research-backed work in Unani medicine, while padma shri Mohsin Wali received recognition for his long-standing contribution to patient-centred care.
Education and social development also featured prominently. Padma shri Zahir Ishaq Kazi was honoured for decades of work in education, while former Meghalaya superintendent of Police T. C. Chacko was recognised for public service. Goonj founder Anshu Gupta received an award for his dignity-centred rural development initiatives, and the Hunar Shakti Foundation was honoured for empowering women and young girls through skill development.
The Lifetime Achievement Award went to former IAS officer Shailaja Chandra for her long career in public healthcare and governance, particularly in the traditional systems under Ayush.
Speaking at the event, Hamdard chairman Abdul Majeed said the awards were a tribute to those who combine excellence with empathy. “These awardees reflect Hakeem Sahib’s belief that healthcare, education and public service must ultimately serve humanity,” he said.
Minister Seth struck a forward-looking note, saying India’s young population gives the country a unique opportunity to become a global destination for learning, health and wellness by 2047.
The ceremony also featured the trailer launch of Unani Ki Kahaani, an upcoming documentary starring actor Jim Sarbh, set to premiere on Discovery on 11 February.
Instituted in memory of Unani scholar and educationist Hakeem Abdul Hameed, the awards have grown into a national platform that celebrates those building a more inclusive and resilient India. For one evening at least, the spotlight was not just on success, but on service with substance.
