Distinguished personalities of human values ​​and the future of the country were decorated in the 42nd felicitation ceremony.

Udaipur, Taking forward the ancient glorious tradition of Mewar, Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar, Chairman and Managing Trustee of Maharana Mewar Charitable Foundation, honored the distinguished personalities of human values ​​and the future talented students of the country in the 42nd felicitation ceremony of the Foundation.

The function was formally inaugurated by lighting the lamp on the stage and offering floral tributes to Parameshwaraji Maharaj Shri Eklingnathji and the founder of the foundation Maharana Bhagwat Singh Ji Mewar.

Dr. Mewar became emotional while remembering the names of his ancestors along with his father Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar. He said that as the 77th Shri Ekling Diwan, I pledge to carry on the glorious traditions of Mewar in the light of the values ​​of my father. Along with this, to commemorate the memories and ideals of his father, he also inaugurated a new national level decoration by announcing ‘Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar Decoration’.

Dr. Lakshyaraj Singh Mewar welcomed the dignitaries who came from India and abroad to be honored with flower garlands. In the ceremony, a total of 81 students were first invited and honored. In encouragement of the children who were honored with special honours, all the guests present stood at their places and honored them with applause.

This year, the international level Colonel James Todd Award was given to Dr. Molly Emma Atkin, America, she is a leading scholar of the Indian miniature painting tradition, especially Mewar and Rajput court painting. His work is a modern extension of the historical tradition of Colonel James Tod, through which the culture, history and artistic heritage of Mewar was established on the world stage.

National level Haldighati award was given to senior journalist Kamlesh Kishore Singh. Kamlesh Kishore has been active in the Indian media world for three decades. His contribution in innovation in digital journalism, providing strong direction to Hindi journalism and guiding the new generation journalists is especially noteworthy. His presence as ‘Tau’ in the popular podcast Teen Taal inspires a wide audience to think critically on contemporary issues.

The Hakim Khan Sur Samman was awarded this year to Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, VRC, of ​​the Indian Air Force. Squadron Leader Rizwan Malik, VRC, is a serving officer of the Indian Air Force and has been decorated with Vir Chakra for extraordinary gallantry displayed during Operation Sindoor in the year 2025. You are commissioned as a fighter pilot and are proficient in operating advanced fighter aircraft. They are entrusted with the most challenging and important operational responsibilities of the Indian Air Force. You hail from Keikhu village of Imphal East district of Manipur state and have emerged as a source of pride for your state as well as the entire nation.
This year, Shri Marimuthu Yoganathan, who is known as ‘Tree Man of India’ across the country, was honored with the Maharana Uday Singh Award for his special contribution in the field of environmental protection. Working as a bus conductor of Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) in Coimbatore, he has been continuously dedicated to the work of tree plantation, environmental awareness and climate protection and inspiring others in the environmental movement and development for almost four decades. He has planted more than five lakh trees.

This year’s Pannadhya Awards, given for acts above and beyond the call of duty, were collectively bestowed upon the dedicated crew members of Jet Airways Flight 9W 569, who successfully conducted an emergency delivery at an altitude of 35,000 feet in 2017.

During this Jet Airways flight, the crew displayed amazing restraint, courage and human sensitivity in the face of limited resources, lack of medical facilities and extremely challenging circumstances.

Crew members Isha Jaykar, Tejas Chavan, Catherine Varshney, Sushmita David, and Deborah Tavares together gave birth to a new life safely. Meanwhile, in the cockpit, Captain Pranab Chhabria and Captain Martin Fesanek continued to manage the operational aspect of the crisis. This incident became a unique example of duty, compassion and human responsibility going beyond service. The baby was named Jetson who appeared on the stage with his family.

In honor of the 76th scion of Mewar, who glorified the cultural heritage of Mewar on the global stage, this year’s first “Maharana Arvind Singh Mewar Alankaran” honored Mr. Puneet Chatwal, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, The Indian Hotels Company Limited, for his outstanding leadership and contribution to India’s tourism sector.

This year, Vedamurti Devvrat Mahesh Rekhe was honored with Maharishi Harit Rashi Samman in a royal level honour. 19 year old Vedamurthy Devavrata edited the rare Dandakram Viratipath of Shukla Yajurveda (Madhyandin branch) based solely on memory power for 50 days in Varanasi. He is considered to be the second scholar in the world to recite the complete Dandakrama in about 200 years. His work holds historical importance towards the revival of the endangered Vedic textual tradition.
This year’s Maharana Mewar Samman for services of lasting value for educational, character, moral, social and economic upliftment of the society goes to India’s first transgender woman Sub-Inspector of Police. Awarded to Prithika Yashini and Senior Journalist Bhuvnesh Jain.

Currently posted in Jaipur, Deputy Editor of Patrika Group, Bhuvnesh Jain, active in print media for the last 41 years, has a special hold on the subjects of politics, social issues, urban development, crime, education, health etc. Through his editorial leadership role for more than two decades, coverage of SAARC and G-20 summits and influential column writing, he has made his unique identity at the national level.

Maharana Kumbha Samman in the field of Indian culture, literature and history was given to the famous Hindi and Rajasthani litterateur Tarun Kumar Dadhich of Udaipur.

Maharana Sajjan Singh Award in the field of fine arts was given to internationally renowned sand artist Ajay Rawat. Rawat is the founder of the National Sand Art Park in Pushkar, who has given global recognition to this art through many grand sand sculptures including the 51 feet high statue of Maharana Pratap.

Dagar Gharana Award, given in the field of music, was awarded to renowned flute player of Hindustani classical music, Pandit Hariprasad Chaurasia, who was awarded Padma Vibhushan.

Rana Poonja Samman was given to Mandana artist Dimple Chandat for the upliftment of tribal society. He is dedicated to the preservation and documentation of tribal Mandana art.

Ram Ratan Jat and Avani Lekhara were decorated with Aravali Samman given to the players of the state. Ram Ratan Jat, Chief Petty Officer in the Indian Navy, is a world-renowned ultra-marathon runner. He completed the 135-mile long “World’s Toughest Footrace” held in California and set a Guinness World Record by running the 4,280.1 km race from Kashmir to Kanyakumari in 52 days.

Avani Lekhara gained international recognition in para shooting despite suffering a serious spinal cord injury. In Tokyo Paralympics 2020, he created history by winning gold medal in 10 meter air rifle event and bronze medal in 50 meter rifle 3 positions. She became the first Indian woman to win two medals in the same Paralympics and was awarded the Padma Shri in 2022 by the Government of India.
This year, the state level ‘Maharana Mewar Special Award’ of Maharana Mewar Foundation was given to Rajesh Vaishnav of Suratgarh city and Udaipur, the best police station of Rajasthan, for preserving the 500 year old sacred water sharing tradition of Mewar.

The function ended with vote of thanks by Mohlakshika Kumari Mewar and the stage was conducted by Gopal Soni in Hindi and Rupa Chakraborty in English.