Mumbai, March 10: Bollywood actor Aamir Khan and Maharashtra Home Minister R R Patil received the ‘Maharashtrian of the Year’ award, instituted by leading Marathi daily Lokmat, at a function held here today.
While Aamir received the award in the entertainment category, Patil received it in the politics category.
Others who received the award on the occasion include: Kalpana Joshi (science and technology), Sanjay Gaikwad (industry), Bhagwan Rampure (arts), Kavita Raut (sports), Dr Ravindra Kolhe and Smita Kolhe (social service).
Speaking on the occasion, Maharashtra Chief Minister Prithviraj Chavan dwelt on the present situation and challenges before the state.
Democratic systems and free media are true strengths of the state, he said.
Lokmat director and Rajya Sabha MP Vijay Darda, while delivering the welcome speech, voiced concerns about malnutrition, Naxal problem, slow industrial progress rate, and farmers’ suicide among other things.
The jury members included former High Court judge B N Deshmukh, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, Anna Hazare, Lila Poonawala, Gulzar, Rajdeep Sardesai and Dilip Vengsarkar.
Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken, state education minister Rajendra Darda, actors Jackie Shroff and Jitendra, and industrialist Gautam Singhania were also present on the occasion.
–PTI