Surat (Gujarat) [India], December 22: Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presented the prestigious ‘Gujarat Sanskrutik Yoddha Puraskar’ to eight individuals for their remarkable contributions in the fields of culture, morality, and social values. The award ceremony, held at the Convention Hall of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, was organized by the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Academy in collaboration with the state government’s Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities Department.
The recipients of the award were Sanvar Prasad Ramprasad Budhiya, Sudha Kakadia Nakrani, Nandkishore Sharma, Keshavbhai Goti, Geetaben Shroff, Tarun Mishra, Komalben Savaliya, and Pratibha Desai (Lawyer). They were honored for their efforts in promoting cultural awareness and nurturing national spirit in society. Each awardee received a cash prize of Rs 1 lakh, along with a certificate and a memento, presented by CM Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Cultural Activities, Harsh Sanghavi.
In his address, Chief Minister Patel emphasized the importance of spreading positivity to counteract the growing influence of anti-social elements in society. He acknowledged the role of social media but urged citizens to fight against negativity and reinforce cultural values. He also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a “Viksit-Atmanirbhar-Unnat Bharat” by 2047, stressing the need for a cultured and aware society to achieve this goal.
CM Patel praised the “Save Culture, Save Bharat Foundation” for its initiative to honor cultural warriors and emphasized the importance of preserving India’s rich heritage. He also noted that the state government would collaborate with the foundation to introduce the ‘Gujarat Sanskrutik Yoddha Puraskar,’ furthering efforts to protect culture and national values.
Minister Harsh Sanghavi spoke about the significance of unity within families and society, underscoring Gujarat’s efforts to preserve cultural values under CM Patel’s leadership. He also discussed initiatives to reduce the number of elderly people in old age homes, highlighting the importance of instilling cultural values in children.
Uday Mahurkar, writer and founder of the ‘Save Culture, Save Bharat Foundation,’ called for a national movement to tackle distorted content in the media and urged citizens to oppose harmful material on social media and OTT platforms. He announced the Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition-2025, which aims to engage 20,000 students across 2,800 colleges, helping to promote cultural awareness among the youth.
The event also featured screenings of short films ‘Krupaya Dhyan De’ and ‘Ek Ladki,’ which addressed the dangers of anti-social elements in society. Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairman Alok Kumar Pandey delivered the welcome address, highlighting the importance of the ceremony in promoting Gujarat’s cultural heritage.
The ceremony was attended by several dignitaries, including Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel, MP Mukesh Dalal, MLA Sandeep Desai, Mayor Daxesh Mavani, District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi, and other esteemed leaders, social workers, and citizens.