The Maharashtra Bhushan is the highest civilian award presented annually by the Government of Maharashtra State in India.
When the Shivsena- BJP alliance came to power in 1995, it proposed to institute this award. The Maharashtra Bhushan was first awarded in 1996. It was initially conferred in every years in the fields of Literature, Art, Sport, and Science. Later the fields of Social Work, Journalism, and Public Administration and Health Services were included. The award is presented for outstanding achievement in their field.
Prize and selection At present, the award carries a cash prize of 25 lakhs, a memento and citation. The winners are selected by a committee appointed of the Government of Maharashtra.
Recipients The recipients of the Maharashtra Bhushan award are as follows
Year Name Image Field Ref1996Purushottam Laxman DeshpandeLiterature1997Lata Mangeshkar Music 1998Sunil GavaskarSports 1999Vijay P. BhatkarScience 2001Sachin Tendulkar Sports2002Bhimsen Joshi Arts, Music 2003Abhay and Rani BangMedical Services 2004Baba AmteSocial Work 2005Raghunath MashelkarScience 2006Ratan TataPublic Administration 2007Ramrao Krishnarao Patil (posthumous) Public Administration 2008Nana Dharmadhikari (posthumous)Social Work 2008Mangesh PadgaonkarLiterature 2009Sulochana Latkar Arts, Cinema हा तर माझ्या घरचा आहेर! Maharashtra Times, Nov 30, 20092010Jayant NarlikarScience Narlikar honoured with Maharashtra Bhushan Times of India,2011 Anil KakodkarScience 2015Babasaheb PurandareLiterature 2021 Asha Bhosle Music2022Appasaheb Dharmadhikari Social Work 2023Ashok SarafArts, Cinema 2024Ram V. SutarArts
Trivia Ramrao Krishnarao Patil and Nana Dharmadhikari only two to receive Maharashtra Bhushan posthumously Lata Mangeshkar and Asha Bhosle only two sisters to receive Maharashtra Bhushan. Nana Dharmadhikari and Appasaheb Dharmadhikari are only father and son to receive Maharashtra Bhushan. Abhay and Rani Bang are Only Couple to receive Maharashtra Bhushan
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