Gandhian “Warriors” honoured at 44th Jamnalal Bajaj Awards 2022
The 44th Annual Jamnalal Bajaj Awards 2022 function presented by the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation honoured the winners for their exemplary efforts in the field of humanitarian and social work. The award was held on 8th December 2022 at the Royal Opera House in Mumbai at 5.30 pm.
The four awardees were felicitated in the presence of the Chief Guest and renowned scientist Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, Former Director General, Council of Scientific and Industrial Research, Chairman of National Innovation Foundation and Council of Advisers of the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation and Mr. Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman and Board of Trustees of Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation and Members of the Council of Advisers of the Foundation and the august gathering.
The awardees are as follows:
- Award for Constructive Work – Mr. Nilesh Desai (Founder & Director, Sampark Samaj Sevi Sanstha, Madhya Pradesh)
- Award for Application of Science and Technology for Rural Development – Mr. Mansukhbhai Prajapati (Innovator & Entrepreneur, Mitticool Clay Creation, Gujarat)
- Award for Development and Welfare of Women and Children – Ms. Sophia Shaik (Secretary, Society for Weaker Community, Odisha)
- International Award for Promoting Gandhian Values Outside India – Dr. Ogarit Younan & Dr. Walid Slaybi (Founders, Academic University College for Non-Violence and Human Rights aka AUNOHR, Lebanon)
Mr. Shekhar Bajaj, Chairman, Board of Trustees, Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation addressing at the occasion said, “While we all are missing the presence of late Shri Rahul Bajaj, we are comforted by the thought that he has set an example for us to follow in our philanthropic pursuits. To me he was my brother, Rahul Bhaiya – always approachable and always willing to guide. He was simple and easy going, fair to all; most importantly for me, he was devoted to the family and kept us all together. My job as the new Chairman hence becomes easy due to the high standards and processes set by Rahul Bhaiyya for the last 28 years and prior to that, by my father.
Dr. Mashelkar has been an influential thought leader in shaping Science, Technology & Innovation policies in post liberalized India. An ardent champion of inclusive innovation, he pioneered the concept of Gandhian Engineering. The Bajaj Family and the Jamnalal Bajaj Foundation Family have a very special relation with Dr. Mashelkar and we hold him in high esteem.
All our awardees have something in common. They are liberated from external societal pressures, such as cultural and social expectations, political and economic influences. They are beyond ego and material attachments. They have attained this unique quality of self-realization. We have witnessed this philosophy in the lives of Mahatma Gandhi and Shri Jamnalal Bajaj. I strongly feel in today’s world of extreme inequity, self-realisation is more than a choice. Only when you have attained a certain level of self-realization, can you move towards the welfare of others around you.
Our awardees have paved the path for us to follow. And we must follow.”
The Chief Guest and renowned scientist, Dr. R. A. Mashelkar, in his keynote address stated, “This is the first occasion since the institution of Jamnalal Bajaj Annual Awards that we are meeting without Rahul bhai among our midst. Although Rahul bhai is no more, I am sure that each one of us feels that he is everywhere.
If Rahul bhai was to express his wish from his heavenly abode today, we are sure he would have exhorted all of us by asking us to a commitment “not to dim the light that Jamnalalji, Ramakrishnaji had lit and that I had carried on till the last day of my life. And after me, you must carry on our noble traditions with even greater vigour.”
Following this message in letter and spirit is the best tribute we can pay to our legendary Rahul bhai.
I want to congratulate all the award winners heartily. To me this is not an award. It is our grateful felicitation of your noble work. So it is our hearty congratulations as also heartfelt thanks. You are exemplars. You are lighthouses. You illuminate our minds and show us the path forward.
India, very proudly, is celebrating India@75. We are now talking about India@100. What worries me is that during these celebrations, we rarely talk about Bharat@75. The pandemic hit the poor of our Bharat the most. Millions of our brothers and sisters moved from poverty to extreme poverty. The levels of deprivation, divisiveness, joblessness, and human suffering have increased. How can we talk about India@100 without talking about Bharat@100? Let’s not forget that 70% of India lives in rural areas. 17% of India lives in slums. What should be the Bharat@100 of our dreams? To me, it must be based on seven tenets. These include Santulit (balanced), Susanskrit (cultured), Suvidhya (educated), Samruddha (affluent), Sushasit (well governed), Surakshit (secured) and Swanandi (happy).
One can show that each of the seven tenets will succeed, only when the Gandhian values are preserved, promoted and practiced. And therefore, our awards that achieve precisely these will be most critical in building Bharat@100 of our dreams and much beyond.”
For more information on Jamnalal Bajaj Awards, visit: www.jamnalalbajajawards.org/awards-2022
To know more about the Foundation and Bajaj Group initiatives, visit: www.jamnalalbajajawards.org, www.jamnalalbajajfoundation.org and www.bajajgroup.company
For more information please read the: press release.
