SPPU honours eminent persons on foundation day

SPPU honours eminent persons on foundation day

PUNE: The Savitribai Phule Pune University (SPPU) celebrated its 71st foundation day by felicitating the stalwarts in different fields from all walks of life at the campus on Monday.

Rahibai Popere, farmer and conservationists who is also known as the 'Seed Mother of India' was felicitated along with five other stalwarts including Ahmednagar district's Hiware Bazar Sarpanch Popatrao Pawar, former SPPU vice-chancellor (VC) and renowned economist Narendra Jadhav, social activist Girish Prabhune, Pune based renowned advocate and president of Shikshan Prasarak Mandali SK Jain, renowned doctor Dr Vinod Shah with Lifetime Achievement Award.

Marathi actress Mukta Barve and theatre artiste Dharmakirti Sumant were awarded 'Yuva Gaurav Puruskar'. The awards were presented by renowned musician and singer Pandit Hridyanath Mangeshkar who was the chief guest along with SPPU VC Nitin Karmalkar, pro-VC NS Umarani and others.

Popere, who belongs to tribal belt dominated by adivasi community in Akole village of Ahmednagar district, had started the movement to build a seed bank in her village. “I have never been to school but my schooling has been in the nature's bed and black soil. Hence, I have received many awards. This award isn't mine, it is actually of the black soil and seeds," she said. "Like, there are banks in every village, it is necessary that we also establish seed banks in every taluka and village. My efforts are to spread awareness about indigenous seeds in every house," said Popere.

Pawar said, "The cricket ground has taught me teamwork and to be optimist. My work has been mainly in agriculture and water management. In last two and half years, people from 60 countries have visited our village. If the groundwater isn't conserved now, then the situation will be alarming in the future." Stating that so far 3 former VCs have been awarded lifetime achievement award, Jadhav said, "I have enjoyed my work as a VC of this university. I am grateful to this university for what it has given me."

"While I was working for nomadic tribes, I realised they have immense knowledge. By bringing them into school education, we are losing their traditional knowledge. Moreover, many among them don't even reach up to Std XII. 'Punarutthan Samarasta Gurukulam' education system has enabled these students to learn the modern education," said Prabhune adding that he was refused  a degree certificate by SPPU (formerly known University of Pune) because of his involvement in student protests and now, the university has honoured him .”

‘DON’T BE AFRAID TO STRUGGLE IN LIFE’
“The Puneities would taunt us ‘there go the courageous children’ when we five brothers would wander around the Laxmi Road. Today, all of us have been awarded with Padma Shri. The reputation that we have earned in this society is because of the preaching received from our father Deenanth Mangeshkar and elder sister Lata Mangeshkar,” said Hridyanath.

“Don’t be afraid to struggle in life. Although, I was not trained in music at school or college but have received the talent by listening to Lata and Asha Bhosale’s songs,” said Hridyanath.

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