Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation Shri Amit Shah presented the "Maharashtra Bhushan" award for the year 2022 to Dr. Appasaheb Dharmadhikari at Raigarh, Maharashtra today. On this occasion, Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis and many other dignitaries were present.

In his address, Shri Amit Shah said that people have immense respect and devotion for Appasaheb, a social worker who did social service in public life without aspiring for any fame. He said that such respect and devotion can be achieved only through sacrifice, dedication and service done by Appasaheb. People's love, trust and respect for Appasaheb is a tribute to his work and value, and the teachings of Nanasaheb. Shri Shah said that like Appasaheb, instead of following the people, one should act in such a way that people follow him.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that it is rarely seen in history that the culture of social service remain in the same family for three generations. First Nanasaheb, then Appasaheb and now Sachin Bhau and his brothers are carrying forward this tradition of social service. He said that by giving him the Maharashtra Bhushan Award the Maharashtra government has not only honored Appasaheb, but has also inspired crores of people to live life like him.

Shri Amit Shah said that this land of Raigad in Maharashtra is the holy land of the great Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. This land has continued three traditions in the country. First- the tradition of valor and sacrifice for the nation, which was started by the Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj. Rising from the land of Maharashtra across the country, great freedom fighters like Veer Savarkar, Vasudev Balwant Phadke, Chapekar brothers and Lokmanya Bal Gangadhar Tilak laid down their lives for Swaraj and respect. Second - in the field of ‘Bhakti’ great people from Saint Samarth Ramdas and Saint Tukaram to Saint Namdev have always shown the way to this country. Third- The tradition of social consciousness, which started from Maharashtra itself. Social reformers like Mahatma Jyotiba Phule, Savitri Bai Phule, Babasaheb Dr. Bhimrao Ambedkar and forerunners of many social movements are the gift of the great land of Maharashtra. In this tradition, Nanasaheb and Appasaheb have done a huge work of awakening this social consciousness and taking it forward.

The Union Home Minister and Minister of Cooperation said that it is very difficult to implement the spirit of “Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah, Sarve Santu Niramaya” mentioned in our Upanishads. He said that under this spirit, a person has to live a large part of his social life by his actions not for himself, but for society and others. The lessons given through speech are short-lived and forgotten with time but the lessons given through one’s action are eternal. Shri Shah said that Appasaheb has taught lakhs and crores of people to work for the society and others besides themselves. When the country was in great need, Appasaheb brought together lakhs of people who lived for other people on the basis of the mantra of Sarve Bhavantu Sukhinah. It is because of these works that the government led by Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi honored Appasaheb with the Padma Award.

Shri Amit Shah said that ‘Maharashtra Bhushan Award’ was instituted in 1995 and since then many people who has contributed to the social life of Maharashtra and the country have been awarded. He said that starting from Purushottam Laxman Deshpande, Swar Kokila Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Scientist Vijay Bhatkar, Raghunath Mashelkar, Jayant Narlikar, Anil Kakodkar, Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare, well-known artists Sulochana ji and Nanasaheb have been awarded with Maharashtra Bhushan. He said now Appasaheb from Nanasaheb’s family has got the award. This is the first time that the Maharashtra Bhushan award has been given in the same family for the second time. Shri Shah said that Appasaheb guided the society through his actions with the slogan “Let's March On''. He worked for the improvement of children, distribution of free educational material, tree plantation, cleanliness, blood donation, unique process of collecting waste during festivals, cleaning of wells, women empowerment, welfare of tribals, drug free society, eradication of superstition and illiteracy and has set many examples in these areas. Shri Amit Shah prayed for Appasaheb's long life and wished lakhs of his followers to continue working in the society for many years as per Appasaheb's directions. He thanked the Chief Minister of Maharashtra Shri Eknath Shinde, Deputy Chief Minister Shri Devendra Fadnavis for conferring Maharashtra Bhushan on a deserving personality like Appasaheb.

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