Maharashtra Bhushan Award in 2001
The "Maharashtra Bhushan Puraskar," Maharashtra's highest civilian honor, was bestowed on Sachin Tendulkar and I.T. genius Dr. Vijay Bhatkar in Mumbai on Tuesday. Tendulkar, who received the award for the year 2000-01 from Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh in a small ceremony conducted at Rang Bhavan in South Mumbai, became the youngest recipient at the age of 28.
The award comes with a scroll, a memento, and a cash prize of Rs 5 lakh. "Wonderboy" Sachin, who drew a standing ovation from the audience, said he was missing his father at the moment. An emotional Sachin stated, "I would not be where I am now if it weren't for my father's lessons." He praised his instructor, Ramakant Achrekar, as well as cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar and his family members, profusely. Sachin, who has amassed 10,000 runs and 100 wickets in one-day cricket, has promised to give his all to the game in order to bring glory to the state and country.
Tendulkar should be awarded the Bharat Ratna, according to Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal. The event was attended by Cultural Affairs Minister Ramkrishna More, Minister of State for Cultural Affairs Vimal Mundada, cricket icon Sunil Gavaskar, former Indian cricket board chairman Rajsingh Dungarpur, and Ramakant Achrekar.
