Mumbai/New Delhi, 22 April 2024

 

The President of India conferred Padma Bhushan to Shri Ram Naik & Shri Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt in the field of Public Affairs and Art from Maharashtra during Civil Investiture Ceremony in New Delhi today.  The President also conferred Padma Shri to Dr. Manohar Krishna Dole (Medicine), Dr. Zahir Ishaq Kazi (Literature & Education) and Smt. Kalpana Morparia (Trade & Industry) during Civil Investiture Ceremony today.  

A brief citation about the life and work of awardees is given below:

Shri Ram Naik (Padma Bhushan) 

Shri Ram Naik is an eminent Statesman.

Born on 16th April 1934at Sangli in Maharashtra, Shri Naik did his schooling at Atpadi, Sangli District, secured B.Com.from Pune University and LL.B.from Mumbai University. He is Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (R.S.S.) activist since childhood. He gave up lucrative career and started full time work in capacity of Organizing Secretary of Bharatiya Jana Sangh in 1969. Since then, he has devoted his life fully for the public service.

Shri Naik is the only person winning 8 consecutive elections from Mumbai, as an MLA for three consecutive terms (1978-1985) from Borivali Assembly Constituency and as an MP for five successive terms (1989-2004) from Mumbai North Lok Sabha Constituency. Shri Naik practised democratic principle of accountability by presenting annual Performance Reportto the voters and continued the practice even after becoming the Governor of Uttar Pradesh in 2014. He successfully prevailed upon the Government to change the name of ‘Bombay’ in English and ‘Bambai’ in Hindi to its original Marathi name ‘Mumbai’. As the Governor of Uttar Pradesh, he got changed ‘Allahabad to ‘Prayagraj’ and ‘Faizabad’ to ‘Ayodhya’. He was instrumental in initiating the practice of singing ‘Vande Mataram’ and ‘Jana Gana Mana’ in the Parliament from the year 1992. Historical decision of declaring 24th January as the 'Uttar Pradesh Day’ was taken at his instance. MPLADS (MP Fund) is his brainchild, which empowered each Member of Parliament to undertake small development projects in his constituency. His Private Member Bill for ‘Promotion of Breast Feeding and Ban on Advertisements of Baby Foods’ was adopted by the Government and became an Act.

Shri Naik is a Railway commuters’ activist turned into Minister of State for Railways (independent Charge). In addition to Railways, he was also Minister of State for Home Affairs, Planning & Programme Implementation and Parliamentary Affairs. He established Mumbai Rail Vikas Corporation (MRVC) for betterment of nearly 80 lakh Mumbai commuters. He was instrumental in starting the world’s first ‘Special Ladies Local Trains’ in Mumbai. His regime as the Cabinet Minister for Petroleum & Natural Gas is known as golden era of petroleum in India. He introduced Ethanol mixing in fuel in the country. In his tenure, 439 Petrol Pumps and LPG Distributorships were awarded to widows/dependents of martyrs of Kargil War and of Parliament House attack.

Shri Naik has also been voicing woes of fishermen, leprosy affected persons and project affected persons of Tarapur Atomic Power Plant III & IV. He provided water to Manori - Gorai islands by laying pipes under the sea and electricity to Arnala Island Fort by installing towers in the sea after 50 years of the Independence. Fisherfolks therefore fondly call him ‘Prakash Data’ (Light Provider). He has penned his memoirs in Maratha Daily ‘Sakal’. These were compiled and published in Book titled ‘Charaiveti! Charaiveti!!’.

Shri Naik is recipient of many literary awards like ‘Laxmibai Tilak Atmacharitra Award’ by Maharashtra Government, ‘Sahitya Shiromani Award’ by Hindi - Urdu Sahitya Award Committee, Uttar Pradesh, etc. He has received numerous other awards viz. ‘National Eminence Award’ by Jagadguru Shankaracharya of Kanchi Kamakoti Peetam, ‘Champion of Change - Maharashtra Award for Social Welfare, ‘Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Award’ by Savitribai Phule University, Pune, etc.

 

Shri Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt (Padma Bhushan)

Shri Dattatray Ambadas Mayaloo alias Rajdutt is one of the pioneers whose work has truly taken Marathi cinema to International standards. “Films are not only for entertainment, but can also be used as a powerful tool for social message and a positive change in the society” keeping this thought in mind,he worked in the Marathi film industry like a yogi for more than 60 years.

Born on 21st January, 1932 in Dhamangaon in Amravati district, Shri Rajdutt completed his B.Com at Wardha in GS College of Commerce. He has been a Swayamsevak of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) since childhood and has completed three years of RSS training.

Shri Rajdutt participated in the activities of Aacharya Vinoba Bhave '(Pavanaraashram). He used to accompany Professor ‘Thakurdas Bang’ to serve leprosy patients in the 'Gopuri leprosy centre' near Sevagram and Baba amte's 'Anandvan Ashram'. He is a freedom fighter who participated in the Goa Liberation movement and Dadra Nagar Haveli movement. At a very young age, he bravely faced the jail term for two and half months towards his loyalty to the RSS.After his graduation, he worked as a journalist with ‘Dainik Tarun Bharat Nagpur’ and as an associate editor with 'Dainik Bharat Pune'. He also worked for children's magazine 'Chandoba' at Madras (Chennai). Here he met with his guru film director Raja Paranjape and assisted him for 7 years. As a guru dakshina, he took ‘Raj’ from his guru’s name and ‘Dutt’ from his own name and started directing films independently from 1967.He directed more than 30 movies (Marathi and Hindi) and some of them are Madhuchandra, Devki Nandan Gopala, Shaapit, Pudhchapaool,  Ashtavinayak, Maaficha Sakshidar, Anjaam,  Doorie, Sarja etc.

Shri Rajdutt has directed many serials, telefilms, documentaries like Gotya, Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, Rajgadh, Durga Bhagwat, Dr. Punjabrao Deshmukh and many more. He has worked as a jury member for subsidy committee and has contributed significantly for 'Jagtik Marathi Parishad'. He also directed a splendid light and sound stage show 'Ananda vanabhuvani'. He has been Adhyaksh of Sanskar Bharti for 10 years which is a cultural branch of RSS. At the age of 92, he is still following his passion and has started with his second innings of 'Acting' in cinemas.

Shri Rajdutt won three 'National awards' for best feature film in Marathi- Shapit 1982; Pudhche Paool1985 and Sarja 1987. Along with 3 national awards, he has won 13 Maharashtra State film awards, Filmfare Award for Shapit, Y. Shantaram Puraskar, Zee Gaurav Lifetime Achievement award, Navratna award, Rajkamal Kala Mandir V. Shantaram Puraskar, Raja Paranjpe Pratishthan Puraskar, G.D. Madgulkar and many more awards. The Russian Council felicitated Raj dutt for Shapit. His 3 films got selected in Tashkent, Venice and Cork festivals and he has been one of the Jury members of' National film awards' twice.

 

Dr. Manohar Krishna Dole (Padma Shri) 

Dr. Manohar Krishna Dole is an exemplary personality who has dedicated his life to provide free eye care services to under-privileged and tribal communities in rural India.

Born on 22nd November, 1928, in a middle-class family in Pune, Dr. Dole graduated with a degree in Ayurvedic medicine from Pune University in 1953. At 31, he decided to move from the city to the underprivileged village of Narayangaon 80 km away in the hilly and inaccessible Junnar tehsil, to address the region’s lack of healthcare facilities by setting up basic healthcare infrastructure. Although not an eye surgeon himself, he realized that blindness caused by cataract was the region’s main problem and he set up the Mohan Thuse Eye Hospital and Research Institute there in 1982. The hospital organizes 40 free monthly eye-checkup camps in micro-interior areas of rural Maharashtra. Through these, it identifies and transports patients back in mobile eye care vans, provides all medical treatment including surgery, lens implants, Pre & postoperative checkups, and spectacles, gives food, accommodation, and counseling, and drops patients with restored vision back to their homes, all completely free of charge. The hospital has held over 25,000 free doorstep eye checkup camp in rural and inaccessible areas of Maharashtra. It has examined more than 1.5 crore patients in rural Maharashtra and have performed completely free eye surgeries to more than 1,75,000 tribals members of SC & ST communities and the under privileged people living in remote and inaccessible parts in five districts in Western Maharashtra.

As a recognition of Dr. Dole’s efforts in the area, the Tata Institute of Social Sciences and the Rockefeller Foundation, USA, selected the project as one of 40 out of 6,000 institutes globally to develop research capabilities. In addition, the World Bank provided a grant of Rs. 14 lakhs. He also set up the rural region’s first blood bank and eye bank. The hospital treats patients from primary health care centers in the region that do not perform cataract surgeries. A special focus is on treating female patients, because cataract is more prevalent among women The project was one of the first ones to be involved in the Central Government 'National Program for Control of Blindness' (NPCB) set up in 1976. Since 2000, it has been running a successful two-year fellowship program in cataract surgery training completed by over 250 fellows.

Dr. Dole’s hospital was also a pioneering institute for eye transplants, and is home to the rural region's first blood bank and eye bank. The eye bank is part of a chain of 100 eye banks across the country run by Guruji Netrapedhi, Nagpur. Dr. Dole, after relevant field research & in a well-planned manner, established a system of Eye checkup camps (even in remote & not easily accessible areas). This proved of great benefit to common Indian citizens. 

Dr. Dole has been bestowed with several honours and awards  which includes D Litt 2014 Social work National Tilak Maharashtra Vidyapeeth, Shivneri Bhushan Puraskar 2016, Social work State Government of Maharashtra Felicitation for most number of cataract surgeries 2008, Social work State Government of Maharashtra and Civilian Award 2006 Social work State Pune Municipal Corporation.

 

Dr. Zahir Ishaq Kazi (Padma Shri)

Dr. Zahir Ishaq Kazi is the President of Anjuman-I-Islam, the largest minorities’educational conglomerate in the nation established in 1874. He is a distinguished figure renowned for his exceptional contributions to education, literature, and the medical field.

Born on January 26, 1954, Dr. Kazi earned an MBBS degree from Goa Medical College (University of Mumbai) and later completed his Post Graduate MD in Radiology & DMRD from Topiwalla Medical College and Nair Hospital in Mumbai. He further honed his expertise through fellowship programs at F.M.R.I. - University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, U.S.A., and M.A.I.U.M. - Preceptor Ultrasound - Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, U.S.A. He has been associated with prestigious hospitals in Mumbai, including Bombay Hospital and Hinduja Hospital. He also served as the Radiologist at King Fahad Hospital in Medinah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, under the Ministry of Health.

Dr. Kazi's transformative 30-year journey with Anjuman-I-Islam began in the General Council, leading to key roles such as Chairman of Tibbia Medical College and Hospital and a three-and-a-half-year stint as Honorary General Secretary. During his tenure as President, Anjuman-I-Islam has made tremendous growth in various forms by expansion, consolidation and most importantly excellence. During his tenure, new institutions were added,new courses in existing institutions and increase in intake of existing institutions took place. He was instrumental in motivating all institutions to get accreditation by authorities. Through his vision, he transformed the two Orphanages for Women, one at Versova, Andheri, Mumbai and second at Bund Garden, Pune into a ‘A” Grade Home for Women in sync with the Juvenile Justice Act. His initiatives of appointing over 85% women as Heads of institutions, culminating in to empowerment of women in its truest form. As President for the past 15 years, his visionary leadership fueled the institution's recognition as a national and international brand. He ensured financial stability, streamlined processes, established overseas entities in the USA and the UK (Overseas Friends of Anjuman - OFA), and forged collaborations with prestigious foreign universities like Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), USA, and the University of Westminster, UK.

Dr. Kazi has an illustrious track record, holding esteemed positions on various committees for the States of Maharashtra and Goa, as well as the Government of India. He has served as the Chairman of the National Monitoring Committee of Minority Education and led the Sub-Committee overseeing the implementation of Minority Schemes for the Ministry of Education, Government of India. He also contributes significantly as a Member of the Minority Education Development Committee for the Government of Maharashtra. He continues to contribute significantly to the educational and social landscape, serving as the Chairman of the Shurparka Educational & Medical Trust in Mumbai, Chairman of the IDEAL Education Trust in Thane, and as a distinguished member of the Goa Vidhya Prasark Mandal in Goa. He was elected as the member of the Senate of University of Mumbai in the Management category. 

Dr. Kazi has been awarded with various National and International Awards to his accolade. He was bestowed with “Life Time Achievement Award” by the Ministry of AYUSH, Government of India for his significant role in the field of Indian System of Medical Education. Giants International awarded and honoured him forhis exemplary work in Education in 2015. Aligarh Muslim University honoured him with Sir Syed Excellence National Award in 2020.

 

Smt. Kalpana Morparia (Padma Shri) 

Smt. Kalpana Morparia, a distinguished figure in India's banking sector, has an illustrious career spanning over four decades, marked by exceptional leadership and expertise in financial services. With a solid educational foundation in Law and Science from the University of Mumbai, her professional journey has been characterized by remarkable achievements.

Born on 30th May, 1949, Smt. Morparia’s tenure at JP Morgan as the Chief Executive Officer for India, overseeing corporate service centers and later expanding responsibilities to include oversight of ASEAN countries, exemplifies her strategic acumen and commitment to seamless client service. She played a pivotal role in integrating diverse business units, fostering leadership development, and ensuring alignment across internal stakeholders.

Prior to Smt. Morparia’s role at JPMorgan, her distinguished career at ICICI Bank, where she ascended from Legal Associate to Joint Managing Director, underscores her significant contributions to India's financial landscape. She spearheaded initiatives ranging from setting up the Treasury to managing regulatory relationships, investor relations, resolution of distressed assets (including Dabhol Power Company) and serving as the Chief spokesperson for the ICICI Group. Her instrumental role in the merger that led to the creation of ICICI Bank, India's second-largest bank at the time, further solidified her reputation as a visionary leader.

In addition to her executive roles, Smt. Morparia has made invaluable contributions as an Independent Director on the boards of prominent companies like Dr. Reddy's Laboratories Limited, Hindustan Unilever Limited, HSBC Holdings PLC, and Philip Morris International Inc. She also actively engages in philanthropic endeavors, serving on governing boards and councils focused on education, skill development, and audit quality enhancement.Over the years,she has been a key member of several committees formed by the Government of India in the areas of company law, corporate governance and Limited Liability Partnership. She was also a member of Audit Advisory Board constituted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India.

Smt. Kalpana's outstanding achievements have garnered widespread recognition. She was listed as one of 'The 100 Most Powerful Women' by Forbes Magazine in 2006 and 50 Most Powerful Women in International Business' by Fortune magazine in 2008. She was among the 25 most powerful women in Indian business by Business Today for 7 years. She was honored with the 12th Kelvinator GR8! Women's Award in 2013;L'Oreal Paris Femina Women Award for Leadership in business in 2013;Yuva unstoppable Youth Icon award in 2011; Women Philanthropist award 2010-2011 by FICCI flo; Best Women Director award 2013 by Asia Centre for Corporate Governance & Sustainability. She has also been conferred with an award by Bombay Management Association for Management Women Achiever of the year 2012-2013 and by Association of International Wealth Management of India for India's Top 100 Women in Finance 2019.

 

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