India’s leading Marathi News Channel, ABP Majha organised ‘Shourya Puraskar’, a prestigious award show to recognize & felicitate the unflinching bravery of the unsung heroes of Maharashtra. The award show took place at ITC Maratha, Mumbai to mark the celebration of the 72nd Republic Day of India. It was telecasted on ABP Majha on 26th January, 2021.
With a heartfelt motto - ‘We don’t know them all, but we owe them all’, ABP Majha’s aim was to recognise the courageous deeds and mettlesome spirit of the brave-hearts of the state, through this special ceremony.
The award show played host to various honourable dignitaries such as Anil Vasantrao Deshmukh (Home Minister of the State of Maharashtra), Urmila Matondkar (Actress & Politician), and Riteish Deshmukh (Indian Film Actor).
The lion-hearts who were awarded as a part of this initiative included the following:
1. Lata Bansole - MH security force female officer, Ms. Lata Bansode, along with the help of civilians, saved the life of a man from being run over by a train at Grant Road railway station. The bravery and quick-thinking shown by her was exemplary.
2. Naveed Duste – This brave-heart saved the lives of 30 people in the Raigad building collapse, and also lost his leg after his heroic rescue efforts.
3. Kishore Lokhande - In the rescue operations that went on for over 40 hours after the incident of the Raigad Building collapse, this 24-year-old from Patoda in the Beed district of Marathwada, manned the Poclain machine to remove debris from the site to find bodies from the rubble. He saved many lives by helping the rescue team round the clock.
4. Kanta Murti Kalan – A 50-year-old woman who stood for hours near an open manhole, on a waterlogged road in Matunga, displayed unflinching determination by alerting people to ensure that no one falls into the manhole.
5. Sanjay Chowgale - A major accident was averted when this highway traffic policeman climbed onto a moving gas tanker and brought it under control after its driver fell unconscious at the wheel. His intervention and quick-thinking prevented a major mishap.
6. Garjabai Ramdas Kasar – In Nashik, a 60-year-old grandmother bravely rescued her grandson from the clutches of a leopard. After being bitten by a leopard, she not only saved her grandson's life but also rescued the leopard.
7. Sanjana Jethu Rao - Fourteen-year-old Sanjana Jetu Rao from Karhe Talavali of Vikramgadh area in Palghar saved the life of a girl who had fallen into a 20-feet-deep well of the village while drawing water.
8. Nitin Nagothkar – Due to COVID-19, workers at the crematorium were overwhelmed emotionally and physiologically. Mr. Nitin Nagothkar tirelessly performed his duties with utmost dedication during this difficult time.
On this heartfelt initiative, Mr. Avinash Pandey, CEO, ABP Network said, “Promoting, inspiring, and rewarding valiance and mettlesome spirit is an integral part of our organization. Shourya Puraskar is a special initiative dedicated towards lauding the courage & heroism of the common man in the face of risk or crisis. Such extra-ordinary acts of bravery need to be remembered and etched in the history of our nation. We hope our initiative will light up the spirits of these heroes and also inspire other citizens to become resilient individuals.”
