Pride lifetime award for Dandekar

PUNE, Dec 22: These stars, probably not used to giving speeches, had a message when they did speak. Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff who...

PUNE, Dec 22: These stars, probably not used to giving speeches, had a message when they did speak. Manisha Koirala and Jackie Shroff who shared the dais at a function to present the Pune’s Pride awards instituted by the Residency Club celebrating its seventh anniversary on Monday evening, felt that activities for the well-being of the society need to be undertaken in a major way.

Pune’s Pride award for life-time achievement was given to Dr. R.N. Dandekar, vice-president of the Bhandarkar Oriental Research Institute. Noted astrophysicist and director of Inter-University Centre for Astronomy and Astrophysics Dr. Jayant Narlikar received the award for excellence in the world of academics, noted actor and director of Film and Television Institute of India Dr Mohan Agashe received the award for excellence in arts and culture, secretary and chief medical officer of the Maharashtra Arogya Mandal Dr S T (Dada) Gujar for excellence in social and civic world, chairman of Serum Institute of India Dr Cyrus Poonawala for excellence in corporate world, and president of women’s hockey association of Maharashtra Arnavaz Damania for excellence in world of sports and sports promotion.

Educationist Asad Zafir Hassan received the Tushar Agrawal Memorial award for youth. The awards were presented by British deputy high commissioner Western region Michael Bates, Koirala and Shroff. Former sheriff of Mumbai Nana Chudasama presided over the function. Member of the Maharashtra State Electricity Board Ashok Samant and chairman of the Rupee cooperative bank Dr Anant Kulkarni were among the other guests.

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Koirala observed that in this small world, it was necessary that peace and harmony prevailed and everyone should strive for it. Going by the present state of things, this would appear a distant dream, she felt. “But what is life without a dream”, she remarked.

Both Koirala and Shroff had great memories about Pune. Koirala said Pune had maintained its charm despite rapid changes in the last five years. Shroff went on to add that he would definitely like to settle in Pune. “But watch out for the pollution levels which are going haywire. Do not let it happen to your city as it has happened to Mumbai,” he observed.

The future of our children is at stake because of the problems currently being faced by us, Shroff said. He added that welfare activities for street children should be initiated so that they get proper shelter and education. Shroff also appreciated the club’s welfare programmes for the soldiers, fondly recalling his experiences when he was completing `Soldier’ and `Refugee’ which is yet to hit the screen.

Dr Dandekar in his acceptance speech lamented that although the people were getting more knowledgeable, they were not getting cultured. Damania said she was elated by the performance of the men and women teams in the Asian games. Dr Agashe observed that the award was being received on behalf of all those who supported him in all his activities in medicine, art and films. Dr Narlikar said he felt greatly honoured to receive the award. Reacting to Shroff’s suggestion for initiating work for street children, Chudasama said the club would initiate welfare programmes during each Diwali. B Malhotra proposed a vote of thanks.