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The Prime Minister, Shri Narendra Modi was conferred the Lokmanya Tilak National Award in Pune, Maharashtra on 01 August, 2023. The Award was constituted by Tilak Smarak Mandir Trust in 1983 to honour the legacy of Lokmanya Tilak. The Prime Minister donated the cash prize to the Namami Gange Project.
The Prime Minister paid floral tributes at the statue of Lokmanya Tilak after arriving at the venue. Addressing the gathering, the Prime Minister paid tributes to Lokmanya Tilak on his Punya Tithi and said it is a special day for him. Highlighting his feelings for the occasion, the Prime Minister said that today marks the Punya Tithi of Lokmanya Tilak and the birth anniversary of Anna Bhau Sathe. “Lokmanya Tilak ji is the ‘tilak’ of India’s freedom struggle”, the Prime Minister said. He also underlined the extraordinary and unparalleled contributions of Anna Bhau Sathe towards the betterment of society. The Prime Minister paid tribute to the land of Chhatrapati Shivaji, Chapekar Brother, Jyotiba Phule and Savitribai Phule. Earlier the Prime Minister sought blessings at the Dagdusheth Temple.
The Prime Minister described the honour bestowed on him by the institution directly linked with the Lokmanya as ‘unforgettable’. The Prime Minister said that when one receives an award, then the responsibilities come especially when the name of Lokmanya Tilak is attached to the award. The Prime Minister dedicated the Lokmanya Tilak Award to the 140 crore citizens of India. He assured them that the government will leave no stone unturned to help them achieve their dreams and aspirations. The Prime Minister also informed about his decision to donate the cash prize to Namami Gange Project.