Priyadarshni Academy Award Once Again Recognises Global Leaders Creating A Difference In The Lives Of People And Society

Mumbai: Audiences from across the world tuned in to watch leaders of national and international acclaim receive the 37th Priyadarshni Academy Award, considered by many as the Nobel Awards of Asia, live on Monday. Due to the ongoing pandemic situation, the Priyadarshni Academy Award function, like last year, was organised on a virtual platform.

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister of Road Transport and Highways graced the occasion as the chief guest; while Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, Leader of the House-Rajya Sabha and Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister with 10 portfolios and six-time MP, were invited as the Guest of Honour. They conferred the awards on global leaders with an enviable bag of achievements.

Welcoming the dignitaries, Nanik Rupani, Chairman Emeritus, Priyadarshni Academy, said, "Priyadarshni Academy’s prestigious Global Awards function has always been a glittering affair, because of the eminent personalities who are honoured for their outstanding contributions to society. This year the award is being conferred on global leaders who have brought positive changes to the lives of people through their selfless work." He said the recipients of the Priyadarshni Academy awards were the role models for millions of people and it was a great honour for him to felicitate them.

Nitin Gadkari, who has been associated with the Academy for more than two decades, felicitated Gautam Adani, Founder and Chairman of the Adani Group. He has been conferred the Ramakrishna Bajaj Memorial Global Award for his Outstanding Contribution to Industry, Commerce and Infrastructure Development.

Speaking on the occasion, Union Minister Gadkari said, "The Priyadarshni Academy Awards are a recognition of global talent by Indian society." He praised the Academy for the independent and impartial selection process followed to recognise and respect personalities from across the world for their contribution to society at large.

Gadkari also praised Nanik Rupani for his tremendous contribution in taking the cultural values of India across the globe and building a human relationship. "We cannot catch our own image. So we learn from everyone and everywhere. The Priyadarshni Academy Awards are a source of motivation and inspiration for people like me," he said.

Thanking the Academy for the award and focusing on building a greater India, Adani said that the pandemic has been a wake-up call for every nation and has permanently changed geopolitics. "The integration of new alliances and the disintegration of existing alliances will have far reaching implications. As India emerges from its impact, we must recognise that the changing geopolitics means drawing from our heritage books like Kautilya’s Arthashastra," he said.

Adani said that a Greater India must be an India that is visibly more Atmanirbhar (self-reliant) and an India for Indians. "It is time now to stand strong and celebrate our Indianess," he said.

Piyush Goyal, Union Minister of Textiles, Commerce and Industry, Consumer Affairs, Food and Public Distribution, and Leader of the House-Rajya Sabha also reiterated that the Priyadarshni Academy Awards not only encourages and motivates the leaders but also inspires people who look up to them. The awards, he said, are an inspiration for many to give back to society as better leaders and citizens.

"In this interconnected world, all of us have a role to play for a better future of mankind. With sustainable lifestyles, climate justice and shared responsibility of all stakeholders across the world, we can solve the problems of the planet. We have a huge sustainability agenda ahead of us for which every single individual, organization, nation, government has to contribute. We have to collectively work for a sustainable future, for the progress and prosperity of people across the world and ensure a good quality of life for all. Our ability as individuals will be measured in the contribution we give back to society and will be multiplied when we work towards common goals, the sustainable development goals which we have collectively adopted," said Goyal.

Speaking on the occasion, Suresh Prabhu, former Union Minister with ten portfolios and six-time MP, stated that the Priyadrashni Academy Award is a platform that brings people from all over the world together. The awards recognise and encourage the contributions of businesses, governments, and spiritual leaders, as well as those helping to tackle climate change.

Dr Niranjan Hiranandani, Chairman, Priyadarshni Academy; Dr R.A. Mashelkar, Chairman, Priyadarshni Academy Global Awards Advisory Committee; Ashish Vaid, Vice-Chair, Priyadarshni Academy; and Ms Reena Rupani, Trustee & Vice-Chair, Priyadarshni Academy, were among the other dignitaries who spoke.

The Other Awardees

Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, Founder, The Art Of Living, Bengaluru was felicitated for being the Harbinger of Peace. He was given the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to Human Welfare and Spirituality.

Sang Hoong Bang, President and CEO, The Chosunilbo, South Korea received the Prahlad P. Chhabria Memorial Award for Outstanding Contribution to Journalism and Freedom of Press.

Hairlinga Hartarto, Coordinating Minister For Economic Affairs, Republic of Indonesia was given the Priyadarshni Academy Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to National Economic Recovery.

Lord Nicholos Stern, Baron Stern of Brentford, CH Kt FBA FRS, Chair, Granthan Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, The London School of Economics, The UK has been conferred the Harishchandra Memorial Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to Sustainable Economic Growth and Tackling Climate Change.

Baroness Sandip Verma, Chair, UN Women UK, Member of the House of Lords, United Kingdom received the Priyadarshini Academy Global Award for Outstanding Contribution to Promoting Women’s Welfare, Rights and Gender Equality.

Bollywood Actor Kiara Advani was felicitated with the Smita Patil Global Award for Best Actor.