2023
Awardee :Shri. Mohan Agashe
Field : Drama and Movies
Awardee By :Smt. Sharmila Tagore.
Chief Guest : Shri. Anupam Kher.
Freedom Fighters :
- Mrudul Ghosh
- Sudam Dishoi
- Umendra M
- Nirmalkumar Kshetri
2022
Awardee :Shri. Nitin Desai
Field : Entrepreneur and Social Activist
Awardee By : Former Union Minister Shri. Praful Patel.
Chief Guest : Former Union Minister Shri. Praful Patel.
Freedom Fighters :
- Hawaldar Mohammad Faiz
- Lance Naik Jayendra Bhenderkar
- Lance Naik M. J. Chako
- Gunner Samhersingh
- Shipai Valsalan Naadar
2021
Awardee :Shri. Baba Kalyani
Field : Industrialist
Awardee By : Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India
Chief Guest :Shri. Nitin Gadkari, Minister of Road Transport and Highways of India
Freedom Fighters :
- Dharamveer Singh
- Suresh Kumar Karki
- K Nagi Reddy
- Freedom fighter Hausabai Patil
- Freedom fighter Madhavrao Mane
2019
Awardee :Dr. G.B. Deglurkar
Field : Indian Archaeology
Awardee By : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu
Chief Guest : Vice President M. Venkaiah Naidu
Freedom Fighters :
- Veermata - Smt. Lata Nair
- Mohammed Chandbhai Sheikh
- Shri. Naik Fulsingh
- Shri. Govind Biradar
- Shri. Pramod Sapkal
2018
Awardee : Dr. Prabha Atre
Field : Classical Music
Awardee By : Pandit Shivkumar Sharma, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia and Ustad Amjad Ali Khan
Chief Guest : Shri. Vinay Sahasrabuddhe
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Raghunath Gangaram Lake
- Shri. Furbu Rindall
- Shri. Sandeep Bajirao Ukirde
- Shri. Dinadayal Verma
- Shri. Prahlad Krishnarao Rebhe
- Vineeta Ashok Kamte
2017
Awardee : Dr. K.H. Sancheti
Field : Medical
Awardee By : Shri. Shrinivas Patil
Chief Guest : Shri. Nitin Gadkari
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Vasant Dattatray Prasade
- Shri. Madhukar Tamhaskar
- Shri. Nir Bahadur Gurung
- Shri. Govind Biradar
- Shri. Anil Lamkhade
2016
Awardee : Shri. Bhai Vaidya
Field : Socialist
Awardee By : Shri. Sharad Yadav
Chief Guest : Shri. Sharad Pawar
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Shankar Bandobo Burungale
- Shri. Baburao Balasaheb Patil (Kivalkar)
- Shri. Yashwant Ramchandra Namjoshi
- Shri. Balasaheb Baburao Jambhulkar
- Shri. Arvind Vasudev Manolkar
- Shri Datta Gandhi
2015
Awardee : Shri. Prataprao Pawar
Field : Journalism & Media
Awardee By : Shri. Pranab Mukherjee - President of India & Shri. Sharad Pawar
Chief Guest : Hon. Shri. Devendra Phadanvis - Chief Minister, Maharashtra
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Malatibai Datane
- Shri. Durganand Waman Gaitonde
- Shri. Baburao Shankar Jangam
- Shri. Shankarrao Mangesh Hodarkar
- Shri. Vitthal Parshuram Mahajan
2014
Awardee : Dr. Cyrus Poonawala
Field : Serum and Vaccinations
Awardee By : Shri. Sharad Pawar & Shri. Narayan Murty
Chief Guest : Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar - Chairman, Punyabhushan Selection Committee
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Madhukar Sakharam Phadnis
- Shri. Devichand Narsaji Rathod
- Smt. Shanta Ranade
- Shri. Eknath D Kothavde
- Shri. Gajabhau Rakhmaji Pingale
2013
Awardee : Shri. Sudhir Gadgil
Field : Anchor and Comperer
Awardee By : Shri. Sharad Pawar & Smt. Asha Bhosale
Chief Guest : Shri. Amin Sayani - Veteran Anchor & Comperer
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Narayan Balwanta Surse
- Shri. Chandrakant Keshavrao Payagude
- Shri. Chaganlal Khivraj Anecha
- Shri. Ganpat Dagdu Gaikwad
- Shri. Balkrushna Dattatray Mirajkar
2012
Awardee : Smt. Nirmalatai Purandare
Field : Women and Child Welfare
Awardee By : Dr. Vikas Amate
Chief Guest : Prof. Dr. Ram Takwale
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Narayan Govind Shukla
(92 Yrs.) - Shri. Madhukar Nirpharake
- Shri. Vishwanath Khangte
- Shri. Chandrakant Shankarrao Borate
- Shri. Vasant Dattatray Joshi
2011
Awardee : Dr. H.V. Sardesai
Field : Medicine
Awardee By : Hon. Shri. Prithviraj Chavan - Ex Chief Minister
Chief Guest : Dr. Balaji Tambe - Yogacharya
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Shantabai Mukanchand Raisoni
(87 Yrs.) - Shri. Murlidhar Prabhakar Karnik
(85 Yrs.)
- Shri. Shankarrao Ramchandra Jagdale
(90 Yrs.) - Lt. Shri. Dinkar Shantaram Mokashi
(85 Yrs.)
- Shri. Prabhakar Laxman Gawde
2010
Awardee : Dr. R.C. Dhere
Field : Literature
Awardee By : Dr. S.L. Bhairappa - Veteran Kannada Literary
Chief Guest : Shri. Mahesh Elkunchwar - Playwriter
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Vijaya Shankar Chitale
(84 Yrs.) - Shri. Bimlendu Sengupta
(87 Yrs.)
- Shri. Chagan Shantinath Bagewadikar
(86 Yrs.) - Smt. Leelatai Ratilal Merchant
(86 Yrs.)
- Dr. Smt. Shanta Ratanlal Kotecha
(85 Yrs.)
2009
Awardee : Dr. S.B. Mujumdar
Field : Education
Awardee By : Shri. Hamid Ansari - Vice President
Chief Guest : Shri. Hamid Ansari - Vice President
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Sushilabai Moreshwar Bavre
(91 Yrs.) - Shri. Raghunath Narayan Deshmukh
(80 Yrs.)
- Adv. Bhakchand Lakhichand Chajed
(80 Yrs.) - Smt. Kusum Vasant Kale
(81 Yrs.)
- Shri. Kondo Ranganath Bokil
(83 Yrs.)
2008
Awardee : Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar
Field : Science
Awardee By : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam - Ex President
Chief Guest : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam - Ex President
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Rupchand Jasraj Shrigod
(87 Yrs.) - Shri. Madhav Hari Patwardhan
(87 Yrs.)
- Smt. Sena Mahajan
(81 Yrs.) - Shri. Digambar Tatyasaheb Ammaldaar
(77 Yrs.)
- Smt. Sudhatai Dattatray Varegavkar
(76 Yrs.) - Smt. Hashmatbi Shaikh Imam
(68 Yrs.)
2007
Awardee : Dr. Shriram Lagoo
Field : Marathi Drama and Movies
Awardee By : Shri. Girish Karnad - Veteran Actor
Chief Guest : Shri. Gulzar
Freedom Fighters :
- Prof. Narsinghrao Venkatrao Ratnalikar
(79 Yrs.) - Shri. Prabhudas Dagdudas Sheth
(78 Yrs.)
- Sau. Bharati Ramkrushna Nakhate
(78 Yrs.) - Shri. Panditrao Aatmaram Kirve
(93 Yrs.)
- Shri. Vilas Manikchand Gandhi
(78 Yrs.)
2006
Awardee : Dr. Baba Adhav
Field : Labour Union Crusader
Awardee By : Hon. Sitaram Yechury - Khasdar
Chief Guest : Shri. P.B. Sawant - Retd. Judge - Supreme Court
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Namdeo Maruti Gholap
(71 Yrs.) - Shri. Dinkarrao Bandoji Patil
(86 Yrs.)
- Shri. Dinkar Madhavrao Satarkar
(93 Yrs.) - Dr. Tarachand B. Rakecha
(82 Yrs.)
- Smt. Usha Damodar Desai
(81 Yrs.)
2005
Awardee : Dr. Rohini Bhate
Field : Dance
Awardee By : Shri. Sushilkumar Shinde - Ex Union Minster
Chief Guest : Smt. Vijaya Mehata
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Janardan Supadu Sonar
(80 Yrs.) - Shri. Mohan Ranade
(75 Yrs.)
- Adv. Tulsiprasad Jayram Patel
(85 Yrs.) - Shri. Kanayalal Hiralal Rathi
- Shri. Ramchandra Dhanaji Jadhav
(80 Yrs.) - Smt. Tarabai Shroff
2004
Awardee : Dr. K.B.Grant
Field : Medicine
Awardee By : Shri. Somnath Chatterjee - Ex. Loksabha Speaker
Chief Guest :
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Prurushottam N Bhogate
(78 Yrs.) - Shri. Raosaheb Rangrao Khalkar
- Shri. Shrikrushna Hari Thakurdesai
- Smt. Malini Vasant Tulpule
(82 Yrs.)
- Shri. Ranganath Tryambak Pund
- Smt. Tarabai Shroff
2003
Awardee : Shri. Rahulkumar Bajaj
Field : Industrialist
Awardee By : Sgri. N. Ram - Editor, The Hindu
Chief Guest : Shri. Sharad Pawar
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Babulal Premraj Jhamwar
- Shri. Krushna Gopal Deshpande
- Shri. Prabhakar Keshav Khare
- Shri. Kishore Ramrao Pawar
- Smt. Vimaltai Garud
2002
Awardee : Dr. Jabbar Patel
Field : Drama & Movie
Awardee By : Shri. Dilipkumar - Veteran Actor
Chief Guest : Shri. Vijay Tendulkar
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Ramchandra Gopal
- Shri. Yashwant Sakharam Choudhari
- Shri. Shivram Sitaram Abhyankar
- Sau. Sheela Vishnu Gulavani
- Smt. Leelatai Appasaheb Bhosale
2001
Awardee : Shri. Jayantrao Tilak
Field : Journalism
Awardee By : Shri. Vilasrao Deshmukh - Ex. Chief Minister
Chief Guest : Prof. G.P. Pradhan - Veteran Freedom Fighter
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Prabhakar Dashrath Gupte
- Dr. Narendra Malkaji Chillal
- Shri. Narayan Dattatray Shirolkar
- Shri. Anandrao Ramchandra Gade
- Sau. Vimal Vtthal Bhagwat
2000
Awardee : Shri. Chandu Borde
Field : Sports
Awardee By : Shri. Kapil Dev & Sachin Tendulkar
Chief Guest : Shri. Polly Umrigar & Bapu Nadkarni
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Vitthal Dasopant Sukatankar
- Shri. Baburaoji Gopalraoji Jadhavrao
- Shri. Gopalsingh Shankarsingh Pardeshi
- Shri. Prabhakar Mahule
- Sau. Nalini Gajanan Dubhashi
1999
Awardee : Shri. Prataprao Godse
Field : Social Work
Awardee By : Smt. Lata Mangeshkar
Chief Guest : Shri. Baba Maharaj Satarkar
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. K. L. Joshi
- Sau. Indira Prabhakar Gupte
- Dr. W.N. Kuber
- Shri. Vitthal Ganesh Bhide
- Smt. Shanta Dattatray Kelkar
- Shri. Namdev Kaluram Kachi
1998
Awardee : Dr. Jayant Naralikar
Field : Astronomy
Awardee By : Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam
Chief Guest : Shri. Manohar Joshi - Ex. Chief Minister
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Chunilal Sethiya
- Shri. V.V.Nene
- Shri. Abdul Latif Sayani
- Smt. Kusum Randive
- Smt. Vijaya Patwardhan
1997
Awardee : Shri. Mohan Dhariya
Field : Environmentalist
Awardee By : Shri. Pandurang Shastri Athavale
Chief Guest : Hon. Shri. Chandrashekar- Ex. Prime Minister
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Anjani Gulabrao Pawar
- Shri Yashwant Shankarrao Bhongle
- Dr. Shankar Krushna Purandare
(80 Yrs.) - Dr. Surendra S Barlinge
(77 Yrs.)
- Shri. Ananatrao Patil
(78 Yrs.)
1996
Awardee : Dr. R.N. Dandekar
Field : Orientalist
Awardee By : Dr. Shriram Lagoo
Chief Guest : Shri. Madhav Gadkari
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Chandrakant Ganpat Khatri
(75 Yrs.) - Shri. Kantilal Jivraj Shah
(73 Yrs.)
- Shri. Baburao Venkatesh Patil
(76 Yrs.) - Shri. Rambhau Tupe
(75 Yrs.)
- Shri. Ganpat Sambhaji Kharat
(76 Yrs.)
1995
Awardee : Yogacharya B.K.S. Iyengar
Field : Yoga
Awardee By : Shri. Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari - Judge
Chief Guest : Prof. Shivajirao Bhosale
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Narubhai Limaye
- Shri. Vasantrao Aalekar
- Shri. Shantibhai Jobanputra
- Shri. Chandmalji Katariya
- Shri. Gopalrao Patwardhan
1994
Awardee : Shivshahir Babasaheb Purandare
Field : Historian
Awardee By : Shri. Atal Bihari Vajpayee
Chief Guest : Shri. P.L.Deshpande
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Balasaheb Bharde
- Smt. Ushatai Aalekar
- Shri. Shivlinga Ramlinga Swamy
- Shri. Chatursingh Shankarsingh Pardeshi
- Shri. Vasantrao Shankarrao Mahagavkar
1993
Awardee : Shri. P.L.Deshpande
Field : Sahitya - Literature, Drama & Arts
Awardee By : Shri. Madhu Danadvate - Ex Union Minster
Chief Guest : Pt. Bhimsen Joshi
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Tarabai Ramchandra Sathe
(80 Yrs.) - Shri. S.G. Thorat
- Smt. Anusuya Shripad Limaye
(77 Yrs.) - Prof. Vasant Bapat
- Shri. Madhavraoji Memane
(83 Yrs.)
1992
Awardee : Dr. Banu Koyaji
Field : Medicine
Awardee By : Shri. Sharad Pawar
Chief Guest :
Freedom Fighters :
- Adv. G.N. Joglekar
(62 Yrs.) - Shri. Anant N Sathe
(72 Yrs.)
- Shri. Jayvant Jagganath Walavkar
(64 Yrs.) - Shri. Namdevrao Balwantrao Mujmale
(78 Yrs.)
- Shri. Prabhakar Bhaskar Kale
(68 Yrs.)
1991
Awardee : Shri. Shantanurao Kirloskar
Field : Industrialist
Awardee By : Shri. C Subramanyam - Governor
Chief Guest :
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. G.P. Pradhan
(68 Yrs.) - Shri. Babumiya Bandwale
(85 Yrs.)
- Shri. Mastarrao Genba Mandekar
(82Yrs.) - Shri. Chandrakant Pitambar Mehta
(66 Yrs.)
- Shri. Ramlinga Limbaraj Sontakke
(76 Yrs.) - Shri. Govind Mahipat Kale
(63 Yrs.)
1990
Awardee : Late. Dr. D. G. Kelkar
Field : Archeaology
Awardee By : Nanasaheb Gore - Veteran Leader
Chief Guest :
Freedom Fighters :
- Smt. Kamal Bhagwat
(74 Yrs.) - Shri. Ramchandra Baburao Bhosale
(69 Yrs.)
- Dr. D.T. Danadvate
(68 Yrs.) - Shri. Yashwant Venkatesh Javadekar
- Sri. Krushnaswami Aapayya Gudmethi
(79 Yrs.)
1989
Awardee : Pandit Bhimsen Joshi
Field : Music
Awardee By : Shri. Vasant Sathe - Ex Union Minster
Chief Guest : Shri. Shantanurao Kirloskar
Freedom Fighters :
- Shri. Shiribhau Limaye
(73 Yrs.) - Shri. Abbas Bandubhai Shaikh
(72 Yrs.)
- Shri. Narsinha Mahadev Tilekar
(71 Yrs.) - Shri. Dattatray Mahadev Jagtap
(72 Yrs.)
- Shri. Vitthal Harilal Khatri
(71 Yrs.)