Dr. Tara Bhavalkar, President of the 98th Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Sahitya Sammelan, was honored with the Jeevan Sadhana Gaurav Puraskar by Bharati Vidyapeeth Deemed University. During the 30th Foundation Day program, Dr. Bhavalkar spoke highly of Dr. Patangrao Kadam, the visionary founder of Bharati Vidyapeeth, who contributed immensely to rural education and development.
The award, which consists of a citation and a cash prize of ₹1,00,000, was presented in the presence of notable guests, including the State Minister of Medical Education, Hasan Mushrif, and the Minister of Skill Development and Entrepreneurship, Mangal Prabhat Lodha. Also present were Dr. Shivajirao Kadam, Chancellor of Bharati Vidyapeeth, Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam, Secretary and Pro-Chancellor of the university, and various other dignitaries.
Dr. Bhavalkar expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the honor and described the award as being like “life-breath” to her. She shared her longstanding connection with the Kadam family and praised their dedication to public welfare and education. She also acknowledged the university’s contributions to higher education, emphasizing its global recognition.
In his address, Hasan Mushrif highlighted Dr. Patangrao Kadam’s fearless commitment to both politics and social work, underscoring his unwavering principles. Mangal Prabhat Lodha praised the legacy of Bharati Vidyapeeth and expressed support for expanding skill-based education within the university.
Dr. Shivajirao Kadam spoke about the ongoing challenges faced by both students and teachers in the field of education, emphasizing the importance of skill development. Dr. Vishwajeet Kadam also expressed gratitude to Dr. Bhavalkar for accepting the award despite her ill health, noting that her work in literature continues to inspire many.
The event also featured the release of the university’s annual report, and Prof. Milind Joshi was felicitated for his election as the President of the Akhil Bharatiya Sahitya Mahamandal. The program was compered by Prof. Dr. Rajendra Utturkar and Prof. Dr. Jyoti Mandlik.
