In an event aimed at celebrating cultural values and societal contributions, Gujarat Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel presented the prestigious ‘Gujarat Sanskrutik Yoddha Puraskar’ to eight distinguished individuals.
These awards recognised their efforts in promoting cultural awareness, moral values, and social integrity.
Organised by the Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi in collaboration with the State Government’s Sports, Youth, and Cultural Activities Department, the ceremony was held at the Convention Hall of Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat.
The recipients of this honour were Sanvar Prasad Ramprasad Budhiya, Sudha Kakadia Nakrani, Nandkishore Sharma, Keshavbhai Goti, Geetaben Shroff, Tarun Mishra, Komalben Savaliya, and Pratibha Desai.
Each awardee was recognised for their remarkable contributions to preserving and promoting cultural heritage and received a cash prize of ₹1 lakh, a certificate, and a memento.
Chief Minister Bhupendra Patel and Minister of State for Cultural Activities Harsh Sanghavi personally presented the awards during the event.
Addressing the gathering, Chief Minister Patel highlighted the importance of promoting cultural values amidst the rising influence of negativity in society. He underscored the need to combat anti-social elements and preserve decency and morality.
Patel emphasised that the younger generation must be guided towards values of discipline, responsibility, and cultural awareness to foster a society aligned with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a Viksit-Atmanirbhar-Unnat Bharat by 2047.
Patel pointed out that the New Education Policy focuses on value-based education and that efforts to promote ethics and traditions have been a priority for both state and central governments.
He expressed his delight in honouring individuals dedicated to cultural preservation, calling their efforts an inspiration for others to embrace positivity and contribute to societal growth.
The Chief Minister also lauded the ‘Save Culture, Save Bharat Foundation’ for its initiative to honour cultural warriors and its alignment with the Prime Minister’s vision of ‘Virasat Bhi, Vikas Bhi.’
He stressed the importance of recognising and celebrating those who contribute to preserving cultural values, as their work serves as a beacon for society. Patel urged collective efforts to combat anti-national and anti-cultural activities, stating that such initiatives are essential for positive societal transformation.
Minister of State for Sports and Cultural Activities Harsh Sanghavi reiterated the importance of cultural preservation in modern times. He noted that as younger generations are increasingly influenced by Western culture, efforts must be made to safeguard traditional values.
He also mentioned the government’s initiatives to address the growing divide within families, highlighting successful interventions by the Home Department to reunite elderly citizens with their families.
Sanghavi applauded the introduction of the ‘Gujarat Sanskrutik Yoddha Puraskar’ as a step towards encouraging cultural warriors to inspire others. He emphasised that maintaining unity within families and fostering goodwill in society are integral aspects of Indian culture.
Uday Mahurkar, writer, journalist, and founder of the ‘Save Culture, Save Bharat Foundation,’ delivered a compelling address, urging citizens to combat the harmful influence of distorted content on social media and OTT platforms.
He expressed concern over the perverse material being promoted, which he said negatively impacts youth and society. Mahurkar called for a national movement to address this issue and announced the Gujarat Cultural Elocution Competition 2025.
This initiative, involving 20,000 students from 2,800 colleges, aims to instil cultural awareness and inspire behavioural changes among the youth.
The event also featured screenings of short films titled Krupaya Dhyan De and Ek Ladki, which highlighted the societal challenges posed by anti-social elements.
Gujarat State Sangeet Natak Akademi Chairman Alok Kumar Pandey welcomed the Chief Minister and other distinguished guests, emphasising the state government’s ongoing efforts to promote Gujarat’s rich culture and traditions.
The ceremony was attended by prominent figures, Former CIC Uday Mahurkar, Minister of State for Forest and Environment Mukesh Patel, MPs Mukesh Dalal and Prabhubhai Vasava, MLAs Sandeep Desai and Pravin Ghoghari, Mayor Daxesh Mavani, District Collector Dr Sourabh Pardhi, Municipal Commissioner Shalini Agarwal, Vice-Chancellor of Narmad University Dr K.N. Chavda, and several other dignitaries, social workers, and educationists.
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