Raj Dutta

HONOURING THE VETERAN HEROES

Honour to the soldier and sailor everywhere, who bravely bears his country's cause. Honour, also, to the citizen who cares for his brother in the field and serves, as he best can, the same cause.—Abraham Lincoln

A hero is someone who has given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. – Joseph Campbell

Raksha Mantri Shri Rajnath Singh virtually launched from New Delhi on August 13, 2021 a series of major events, organised by the Armed Forces & various other organisations of Ministry of Defence, to mark the 75^th anniversary of India’s Independence, being celebrated as ‘Aazadi Ka Amrit Mahotsav’. Addressing the gathering, Shri Rajnath Singh congratulated the Ministry & the Armed Forces for organising various events across the country which will instil a sense of national pride among the people. He stated that events represent the Indian ethos of ‘unity in diversity’.

In keeping with the ethos of ‘Aazadi ka Amrit Mahotsav’ being celebrated throughout our country on the occasion of 75^th Independence Day of India, Dr Pramod Pandey, Nation Head of ‘Hindi Academy’ decided to honour prominent Veterans of Mumbai by the Governor of Maharashtra, H.E. Shri Bhagat Singh Koshiyari and sought time and date convenient for the Governor. The Academy shortlisted 10 Armed Forces Veterans of Mumbai who have relentlessly served our Society and invited them for the felicitations by the Governor at 1000 hrs on Wednesday 18 Aug 2021, for the Award of Matrubhoomi Bhushan Samman 2021. Adequate media coverage was given for this special event.

It’s a matter of immense honour and pride that 5 of the 10 Awardees were NFMC Veterans and Veer Naris. Here’s the list of eminent Veterans to have been felicitated by our Governor :

a) Veer Nari, Capt (AMC)(D) Dr Kanta Mukherjee, NFMC

b) Veer Nari, Mrs Kerzin Firdaus Mogal, NFMC

c) Veteran Maj Pranjal Jadhav (Retd), ZSWO Thane

d) Veteran Vinayak Upadhyay, Subedar (Retd)

e) Cdr Vijay Vadhera, NM(G) (Retd), President NFMC

f) Capt KP Haridasan (Retd), NFMC

g) Munnu Prasad, MCPO (Retd), (Majhi Sainik Trust)

h) Gp Capt Triloki Bhatara (Retd) (Founder – Bhatara Foundation)

i) Adv Dattatray Arjun Uttekar, Sgt (IAF)(Retd)

j) Cmde Biman Mistry (Retd) (President IESM, Mumbai)

The Governor also presented Shiksha Bhushan, Sahitya Bhushan and Seva Bhushan awards, constituted by Hindi Academy, to various personalities on the Occasion. Former Minister of State for Home, Shri kripa Shankar Singh, President Hindi Academy Mr Pramod Pandey and Vice President Mr Aalok Choubey were also present.

Dr Grace Pinto from Ryan International Group of Institutions received the 'Shiksha Bhushan' award, Maya Shankar Chaubey, Pius Shukla, Saurabh Pandey won the Shiksha Bhushan award, Yugaraj Jain received the Sahitya Bhushan award, Rajabahu Sheth, Dr Mukesh Gautam, Prashanth Pulwane, Praveen Roy, Kamlesh Nahar receives the Bhushan award And Dr Prakash Jadhav, Dr Balanath Chakor, Dr Anand Pandey, Vedhika Chaubey and Umesh Pandey were honored with the awards.

The Governor congratulated the awardees and appreciated the Hindi Academy for patting the backs of people dedicated in serving the Society, by institution of these Awards.

The timeline sequence of events and the snaps of the function at Raj Bhavan Mumbai, that was ceremonised on 18 Aug 2021 are placed below.