Punjab Chief Minister Parkash Singh Badal was today conferred the prestigious 14th Sant Namdev National Award- 2015 for promoting peace, communal harmony and universal brotherhood at an impressive function organised here by the Sarhad foundation. This award was bestowed upon the Chief Minister by the Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Phadnavis in the presence of the organisers of the Sarhad foundation. Expressing gratitude to the organisers for this coveted honor, the Chief Minister thanked the ‘Sarhad’ organization for this prestigious award which they have bestowed upon him. Mr. Badal said that though he had received several awards in different fields during the past but this award has a very unique significance for him, because it was being given for work in a field which was the ‘dearest and most important’ field in his life. The Chief Minister said that he has always rated peace and communal harmony as sacred goals and tasks of his life. He has ever sought inspiration from the life and philosophy of our great Gurus, saints and seers for the accomplishment of these cherished tasks.
The Chief Minister said that it was a matter of great pride and satisfaction for him that the people Punjab have always endorsed his firm commitment and concerted efforts to foster mutual goodwill, brotherhood, amity and religious tolerance in the society. Felicitating the Sarhad organization for organising this mega event, Mr. Badal said that he was deeply overwhelmed by the gesture of the Sarhad foundation for honouring him with this prestigious award, which was also reflective of unbounded love and affection showered upon him on the behalf of Punjabis by the people of Maharashtra. “I am sure this award will go a long way in further strengthening the bonds of love, friendship and bonhomie amongst the people of Punjab and Maharashtra as both these states are known for their martial spirit, valor, patriotism besides age old friendly ties” he added.
In a bid to further strengthen the bonds of love, peace and goodwill between the people of Punjab and Maharashtra, the Chief Minister urged his Maharashtra counterpart Mr. Devendra Phadnavis emphasising for regular exchange of youth, students, progressive farmers, artistes and cultural icons for enhancing social, cultural and economic ties. On the occasion, Mr. Badal was honoured with citation, Rs 1,01,000 and momento by the Sarhad foundation. As a goodwill gesture, the Chief Minister returned the award money to the foundation urging them to utilise this sum on the ongoing socio-cultural programs and other development activities. Paying floral tributes to Bhagat Nam Dev Ji, the Chief Minister said that his sacred “bani” inspired people from all over the country to follow the path of peace, love and compassion for mankind. He said that as many as 61 sacred hymns (shabads) of Sant Namdev Ji were personally selected by the fifth Guru Sahib, Guru Arjan Devi ji Maharaj, for inclusion in Sri Guru Granth Sahib. “Bhagat Namdev Ji was a great icon of Bhakti Movement whose teachings and work have transcended the boundaries of the state. Life, teachings and work of Bhagat Namdev Ji are as inspiriting today, as they were seven hundred years ago” added Mr. Badal.
Recalling special and deep spiritual and historical bonds between Punjab and Maharashtra, the Chief Minister said that whereas great spiritual figures like Sant Nam Dev ji travelled to Punjab and spent the last years of his life in village Ghuman, the Tenth Master, Guru Gobind Singh ji Maharaj travelled to Maharashtra and spent the last days of his life here – and he left for heavenly abode at Hazur Sahib in Nanded S. He further said that the final direction to the Sikh masses to regard Sri Guru Granth Sahib as their everlasting living Guru were also given at, Sri Hazur Sahib, Nanded which was one of the five Takhts, seats of highest religious and worldly authority for the Sikh masses.
Congratulating Mr. Badal for having been honoured by the Sarhad organisation with this national award, the Maharashtra Chief Minister Mr. Devendra Phadnavis averred that none else than him deserved this coveted award in recognition to his immense contribution for promoting peace, communal harmony and universal brotherhood. He thanked the Chief Minister for organising a magnificent function at village Ghuman in Punjab recently and assured him that the Maharashtra government would extend all possible help and cooperation apart from making all out efforts to accomplish the development works and projects as announced by him. The Chief Minister was accompanied by his Special Principal Secretary Mr. KJS Cheema. Prominent amongst other present on the occasion included President Mumbai Nav Nirman Sena (MNS) Mr. Raj Thackeray, Minister of Food, Civil supplies & Consumer Protection, Government of Maharashtra Mr. Girish Bapat, President 88th Akhil Bhartiya Marathi Sahit Samelan (ABMSS) Ghuman Dr. Sadanand More, Chairman, 88th (ABMSS) Ghuman Mr. Bharat Desadla and Sarhad President, Sanjay Nahar.