Lokmat Maharashtrian Of The Year Awards 2025: Complete Winners List
By Lokmat English Desk | Updated: March 19, 2025 22:14 IST2025-03-19T22:14:32+5:302025-03-19T22:14:32+5:30
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LMOTY 2025 Winners List
Brahmvihari Das of the BAPS Swaminarayan is all smiles as he receives the Lokmat Maharashtrian Of The Year Awards 2025 at Raj Bhavan from Maharashtra Governor CP Radhakrishnan.
Mumbai's Special Commissioner of Police, Deven Bharti, has also been honored with this year's Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year award. A 1994 batch IPS officer, Bharti has handled numerous high-profile cases throughout his career. From the 26/11 Mumbai attacks to the murder of journalist J.D., and playing a key role in dismantling terrorist networks, he has made significant contributions.
Actor Kartik Aaryan made his Bollywood debut in 2011 with the film Pyaar Ka Punchnama. Since then, he has delivered several remarkable performances, earning a strong fan following. With his exceptional acting skills, he has captured the audience's hearts and established his dominance in the industry. For his outstanding contributions to acting, Kartik Aaryan was honored with this year's Lokmat Maharashtrian of the Year award. The event took place at the Raj Bhavan.
Sandeep Pawar (Zilla Parishad School) – The migration of sugarcane workers from Zarewadi in Beed district. Until 1995, the school had only 24 students enrolled up to the fourth grade. After a complete transformation, the school now has 25 classrooms, 20 teachers, and 800 students. Among them, 50 students are from Zarewadi, while 750 are from neighboring villages. Over the past 10 years, more than 400 students have received scholarships. The school has achieved a zero migration rate among students. In the Mukhyamantri Majhi Shala, Sundar Shala competition, the school was ranked first in Beed district and third in the division, winning a prize of 11 lakh rupees. It is also the first school in Beed district to receive ISO certification.
Shivajirao Dole (Ajang, Dist. Nashik) – A retired soldier who united farmers and ex-servicemen to establish the Venkateshwara Co-operative Agro Company based on cooperative principles. He initiated an organic farming project in Ajang, located in the Malegaon taluka of Nashik district, covering 528 acres. The organization now has 112,000 members. The focus is on pesticide-free farming, with agricultural products being exported to Europe. The project has been successful in creating employment opportunities. Farmers are provided fertilizers and seeds on a 'no profit, no loss' basis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised this initiative in his Mann Ki Baat address, and Union Home and Cooperation Minister Amit Shah visited the project in January.
Dr. Jui Mandke (Pediatric Surgeon - Surya Hospital) – With over 21 years of experience, Dr. Mandke has been working as a pediatric surgeon at leading hospitals in Mumbai. She specializes in performing surgeries on newborns, including infants as young as one day old, using laparoscopy. Notably, she has also begun performing surgeries on children with various conditions using robotic technology. Having successfully operated on more than 10,000 children, she uses fetoscopy to examine fetal abnormalities. Dr. Mandke has contributed a chapter on pediatric surgery to a book published by the Pediatric Surgery Association. She is an active participant in numerous medical conferences and has published several research papers.
Dr. Sachin Khatri (Dentist - Government Dental College, Nagpur) – Currently serving as the Head of the Department of Social Dentistry, Dr. Khatri conducted oral health screenings for 23,000 children in Gadchiroli. Among them, 3,487 children (15%) showed signs of oral cancer, and they received treatment at the hospital. He performed surgeries on 812 children and provided medication to 2,600 students. Dr. Khatri has also raised awareness about tobacco addiction among nearly 30,000 students. In 2024, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare honored him with the first prize for the 'World Oral Health Day' celebration and the first prize for the 'World No Tobacco Day' event. As part of the 'Blossom' initiative by the Health Sciences University, he conducted a study involving 8,000 tribal individuals in Vidarbha, where he served as a researcher.Asa Singh (Chairperson, Radiant Indus Chem Pvt. Ltd., Mrs. Foodrite) – The company employs over 500 staff members and has an estimated annual turnover of over ₹250 crore. With two divisions – chemicals and food processing – Radiant Indus Chem is a leader in the production and export of oxalic acid in India. The company also manufactures a wide range of products, including mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, Chinese sauces, jams, syrups, mocktails, pickles, and more. Founded in 1982, the company expanded into the food sector in 2009, leading to a significant revenue growth from ₹39 crore to ₹250 crore. Today, Radiant Indus Chem operates in 22 states across India.
Asa Singh (Chairperson, Radiant Indus Chem Pvt. Ltd., Mrs. Foodrite) – The company employs over 500 staff members and has an estimated annual turnover of over ₹250 crore. With two divisions – chemicals and food processing – Radiant Indus Chem is a leader in the production and export of oxalic acid in India. The company also manufactures a wide range of products, including mayonnaise, tomato ketchup, Chinese sauces, jams, syrups, mocktails, pickles, and more. Founded in 1982, the company expanded into the food sector in 2009, leading to a significant revenue growth from ₹39 crore to ₹250 crore. Today, Radiant Indus Chem operates in 22 states across India.
Chirag Shetty is a prominent Indian badminton player from Mumbai, known for his exceptional achievements in men's doubles. Born on July 4, 1997, he has earned numerous accolades, including a World Championship bronze, multiple Commonwealth and Asian golds, and prestigious awards like the Arjuna Award and Major Dhyan Chand Khel Ratna. With remarkable performances in international tournaments, he continues to make a mark in the world of badminton.
Dhwanil Sheth (Founder, CEO, Skillmatics) and Devanshi Kejriwal (Co-founder, Chief Product Officer, Skillmatics) – Founded in 2017, Skillmatics has rapidly grown to achieve a turnover of ₹500 crore and raised ₹199 crore in capital. The company has made a global impact by creating educational and engaging games that promote learning and curiosity. In addition to a strong presence in India, Skillmatics has a solid footing in the U.S. and Europe. Its products are sold in over 20,000 stores worldwide, including major international retailers such as Walmart, Target, Hamleys, and Hobby Lobby.
Yajurvendra Mahajan (Deepstambh Foundation - Jalgaon) – Yajurvendra Mahajan launched India’s first residential training project offering competitive exam preparation, higher education, and technology training for students with disabilities, orphans, and transgender individuals above the age of 16 in Jalgaon and Pune. Currently, 500 students from 18 states are receiving residential education through this initiative. Since 2006, the foundation has been providing free competitive exam training to thousands of tribal and economically disadvantaged students from rural areas. Over 1,200 of these students are now serving in various administrative roles. Additionally, he established India’s first inclusive and accessible project in Jalgaon through public participation.
Shekhar Singh (Commissioner, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation) – In 2024, the state government honored him for administrative reforms. Under his leadership, Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation secured the first position in the Mazi Vasundhara Abhiyan in the state. During his tenure as Commissioner, he prioritized innovative schemes and initiatives. His work in administrative reforms, healthcare, and education earned him recognition from Prime Minister Narendra Modi in 2017 at an event in Sindhudurg. On June 5, 2021, as part of the Mazi Vasundhara Abhiyan, he was recognized as an outstanding District Collector by then Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray. In 2022, while serving as the District Collector of Satara, he was honored with awards for the Poshan Abhiyan and Skill Development Scheme.
Dr. Dikshit Gedam (DCP, Zone 9, Mumbai) – In recent months, Dr. Gedam has led investigations into several high-profile cases in Mumbai, particularly in the Bandra area. These include the Salman Khan shooting case, the Baba Siddique shooting incident, and the assault on Saif Ali Khan. He also solved the murder of an elderly woman in an upscale locality within hours. Additionally, Dr. Gedam handled the inquiry into the Ranveer and Rani case. Currently, he is responsible for overseeing the crucial Police Zones 8 and 9 in Mumbai.
Aditi Tatkare (Minister for Women and Child Welfare, NCP – Ajit Pawar Group, Raigad) – A consecutive two-term Member of the Legislative Assembly, Aditi Tatkare won the Zilla Parishad member election from the Varse constituency in 2018. She was subsequently elected as the Zilla Parishad Chairperson. During the MVA government, she served as a Minister of State and was the Guardian Minister for Raigad district. Under the Shinde-BJP government, she currently holds the position of Minister for Women and Child Welfare. She played a key role in implementing the Ladki Ki Behan Yojana.
Uday Samant (Minister of Industries, Shiv Sena – Shinde Group, Ratnagiri) – Uday Samant entered politics in 1997 and became the district president of NCP Youth in 1999. He has been elected five times consecutively from the Ratnagiri constituency: first as a member of the NCP (2004-2009), then as a member of Shiv Sena (2014-2019), and currently as part of Shinde Sena (2024). During the Maha Vikas Aghadi government, he served as the Minister for Higher and Technical Education. He visited universities across the state and worked to resolve issues related to colleges. As the Industries Minister, his agreements made in Davos were significant for Maharashtra's industrial sector. After taking oath for the second time as Industries Minister, he again secured landmark agreements in Davos.
Sanjiv Bajaj was also honored with the Maharashtrian of the Year award. Sanjiv Bajaj is the son of the late Rahul Bajaj, the head of the Bajaj Group, and the Managing Director of Bajaj Finserv.
