Former Chief Justice of India (CJI) Bhushan Gavai on Sunday said that the true value of any honour lies in selfless service to society, praising Padma Shri awardees for dedicating their lives to the welfare of others. He was speaking at a civic felicitation programme for Padma Shri recipients organised by Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj Nagpur University (RTMNU) at Dr Vasantrao Deshpande Hall in Civil Lines. Gavai said, “The common thread among all the awardees was their spirit of ‘seva’ and commitment to the betterment of mankind.” He noted that many of them had opportunities to build successful careers outside Vidarbha and earn greater wealth and recognition, but chose to remain in their homeland and serve society.

 

The university felicitated Padma Shri awardees social worker Shankarbaba Papalkar, social workers Dr Ravindra Kolhe, Dr Smita Kolhe, consultant neurologist Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, renonwed homoeopath Dr Vilas Dangre, founder and Chairman of Solar Industries India Ltd Satyanarayan Nuwal, Secretary of the All-India Shri Gurudev Seva Mandal Janardhan Bothe, distinguished hematologist Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo, celebrated folk theatre artist Dr Parshuram Khune and Veteran author and teacher Namdevrao Kamble. Satyanarayan Nuwal was represented by his grandson Harsh Nuwal, while Wing Commander Vinay Sagdeo accepted the honour on behalf of Dr Dhananjay Sagdeo. Gandhari accepted the honour on behalf of Shankarbaba Papalkar. Praising neurologist Dr Chandrashekhar Meshram, Gavai said he had placed Indian neurology on the global map.

 

He also lauded Shankarbaba Papalkar for his dedicated work for children with disabilities and said honouring Janardhan Bothe was also a tribute to the ideals and service of Rashtrasant Tukadoji Maharaj. Vice-Chancellor Dr Manali Kshirsagar said that service to society is among the noblest deeds a person can undertake. She stated that individuals are nurtured by society and therefore have a responsibility to give back to it. She praised the Padma Shri awardees for setting exemplary standards through their work and highlighted their individual achievements. Pro-Vice-Chancellor Akhilesh Peshwe; Registrar Raju Hiwase; President of the Felicitation Committee Adv Manmohan Bajpayee; the Department Head of the Faculty of Humanities Dr Shamrao Koreki; Dr Mangala Hirwade; members of Management Council Dr Ujwala Dange, Dr Devendra Bhongade, Vaman Turke, Ajay Agarwal, Dr Yogesh Bhute, Dr Neelkanth Lanje and Dr Kshitija Kadam were prominently present on the dais. Adv Manmohan Bajpayee’s swimming group donated Rs 1.60 lakh to Shankarbaba Papalkar’s institution in support of its work. The programme was compered by Amruta Indurkar.