Social entrepreneur Dr Aneel Murarka, organized the Bharat Prerna Awards, to encourage and appreciate the achievements of the differently-abled. The programme began with the Ganesh Vandana. There was an amazing portrait of the Elephant God made by a foot-and-mouth painter.
Dotted by achievers and celebrities including social activist Kashi Murarka, DrJayant Gandhi, audiologist-speech therapist Devangi Dalal, Juhi Parmar, Deependra Singh Khushwah, Vinod Shelar, Pooja Bedi, Shibani Kashyap, Rekha Khan, Navni Parihar, Carlyta Mouhini among others, the event interspersed the awards with some exemplary performances by the differently-abled. The celebrities joined them in their festivities and sang and danced with them.
Patron Kashi Murarka with his wise words, invited each of those present, to take a step forward, and “be the difference,” something that son Dr Aneel Murarka strives to take to the next level each year with the Bharat Prerna Awards.
The Bharat Prerna Awards 2018 awardees were as follows:
1. Virali Modi (wheelchair bound Disablity Activist) – Activism for disabled-friendly trains and hotels.
2. Mohd.Rafiq Siddique (polio affected in both legs,) – Started a school for slum children in Malwani.
3. Mayur Dumasia (lost one hand in a train accident) – Is a batsman in the Indian cricket team for the disabled.
4. Bandenawaz Nadaf (born with no hands) – Is a successful foot artist.
5. Eric Paul (paralysed waist-down in a road accident) – An adventure car driver and Swachh Abhiyan activist.
6. Tinkesh Kaushik (lost both legs and a hand in an electric shock) – Is a Paralympic cyclist and a fitness trainer.
7. Prerana Sahane (hearing impaired) – National award winning Bharat Natyam Dancer.
8 .Nadeem Shaikh (born without hands) – A foot artist he conducts art workshops for orphan kids and slum children.
9. Akshay Deshmukh (speech and hearing impaired) – A professional working with a leading firm.
10. Jesal Shah (speech and hearing impaired) – An Interior Designer and Entrepreneur.
11. Kalpesh Chaudhary (polio) – A diamond trader in Surat and a dancer who was runner up in Mr Wheelchair India.
12. Manoj Bhingare (lost both hands in a bus accident) – Is a mouth painter.
13. Swarnalatha J (paralysed below the waist) – She is instrumental in making disability-friendly toilets in southern railway stations and schools.
14. Sai Kaustuv Dasgupta (suffers from brittle bone disease) – He is a classical singer, Graphic designer and Happiness coach.
15. Dr Tariq Khan (paralysed in both legs) – Pursuing MD in Radiology.
16. Varun Khullar (paralysed waist down) – Professional DJ.
17. Adil Ansari (paralysed) – He was a former Paralympic swimmer and is now a National gold medalist Archer.
18. Manasi Gokhale (speech and hearing impaired) – Architect with a Pune based firm.
Article Source: Times of India