Swarajya Awards For 2023: And The Winners Are...

Swarajya Awards for the year 2023, presented in association with SMaRT, have just been announced today (September 15) during a special session at the Pondy Lit Fest.

Swarajya instituted the Swarajya Awards in 2015 to recognise individuals and institutions doing stellar work in various walks of life while being largely committed to advancing values like open market, freedom of enterprise, national interest, innovation, entrepreneurship and celebrating the richness of India’s vast cultural heritage.

This award is now an annual affair. Four awards (named after illustrious individuals) encompassing economics, politics, society and cultural spheres are presented annually.

Dr S P Mukherjee Award for Politics - Shri Devendra Fadnavis

Dr B.R Shenoy Award for Economics - Prof K.V Subramanian

Ustad Bismillah Khan Award for Culture - Sivasri Skandaprasad

Sree Narayana Guru Award for Social Work - Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation

Here's a condensed version of their award citation.

Dr S P Mukherjee Award for Politics - Shri Devendra Fadnavis

Dr S P Mukherjee Award for Politics has been bestowed on Shri Devendra Fadnavis for radically reshaping the governance in the state of Maharashtra by envisioning and executive several transformational initiatives. Fadnavis’s pivotal role in conceptualising and delivering multiple infrastructure projects will forever be etched in the pages of history. Approachable, engaged, numbers-oriented, passionate, professional, sincere, and technology savvy, he combines it with formidable political acumen that makes him a truly shining star in Indian political firmament.

(Dr S P Mukherjee Award, instituted in honour of a great Indian statesman – politician and an intellectual progenitor of a uniquely Indian political philosophy, is conferred on an active politician who has consistently strived to uphold values that Dr Mukherjee epitomised – a commitment to constitutional values, and thoughtful interventions to enrich the quality of public life.)

Dr B.R Shenoy Award for Economics - Prof K.V Subramanian

Dr B R Shenoy Award for Economics has been bestowed on Prof K.V Subramanian for his pivotal role in shaping policies that helped Indian economy navigate through the unprecedented challenge of COVID-19. A stellar academic career was followed by his elevation as Chief Economic Advisor to Indian government.

Subramanian left an indelible imprint on Indian economy policy apparatus by challenging shibboleths. Subramanian, who remains unwaveringly committed to Dharmic values, is an extraordinary role model for students rooted in Dharma who would like to take up social sciences.

(Dr B R Shenoy Award, named in honour of a great Indian free market economist who challenged the state dirigisme, is presented to an individual who has consistently advocated the value of the open market, stood for a reduced role for government in enterprise and thereby made a significant contribution to advance human freedom.)

Ustad Bismillah Khan Award for Culture - Sivasri Skandaprasad

Ustad Bismillah Khan Award for Culture has been conferred on the prodigiously talented Sivasri Skandaprasad for being a bundle of artistic ability, and a committed flagbearer of the culture of this land.

It is no exaggeration to say that Sivasri Skandaprasad is an amalgamation of natural talent and diligent effort.

Born into a musical and dance family, she had arts running in her veins, as it were. It is to her credit that she did not let the god-blessed skills go waste as she assiduously worked on them, and today she is one of the most exciting performers of the niche Sampradhaya Bhajans, Namasankeerthanam and Katha Kutcheri, besides being a Bharatanatyam artist, too.

That she has achieved musical and dancing excellence even while being academically adroit adds lustre to her profile. A qualified engineer, she also has a masters in bharatanatyam, and not to mention a diploma in Sanskrit.

For one so young, she's truly a bundle of artistic ability, and a committed flagbearer of the culture of this land. And in the coming years, she is only going to get better and worthy of many such awards. 

(Ustad Bismillah Khan Award, instituted in honour of one of India’s greatest musicians who embodied the essence of India’s cultural syncretism and shared civilisational heritage, is presented every year to an individual who has achieved the highest level of excellence in fields like arts, culture, literature, philosophy and folk tradition.)

Sree Narayana Guru Award for Social Work - Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation

Sree Narayana Guru Award for Social Work has been bestowed on Sewa Nyaya Utthan Foundation for its exceptional work in rehabilitating countless victims who have faced heart-wrenching atrocities. The foundation has also extended a lifeline to tribal and Dalit refugees from Pakistan. Besides providing immediate shelter and sustenance to them, the Foundation has started centres where hundreds of refugee children get free education. For their unwavering resolve, compassion, and efforts to transform tragedies into tales of hope, we are proud to honor the Foundation.

(Sree Narayana Guru Award, named in honour of the great Hindu social reformer from Kerala who worked for social equality, spiritual freedom and economic empowerment of the underprivileged, will be bestowed on individuals or institutions engaged in fields such as transformational social work projects, inspiring grassroots activism in rural education healthcare, tribal welfare, empowerment of marginalised communities and rural entrepreneurship.)

Previous Winners

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Swarajya Awards For 2019-2020: And The Winners Are...

Swarajya Awards For 2018: And The Winners Are. . .

Swarajya Awards 2017: And The Winners Are...

Swarajya Awards For 2016: And The Winners Are...

Swarajya Awards For 2015: And The Winners Are. . .