Soldiers and Athletes Symbolize India’s Unity, Pride, and Honor: Dattatreya Hosabale

Prominent sports personalities’ mothers honored at Kriya Bharati's 'Jijamata Samman Ceremony' in Bhopal.

GG News Bureau
Bhopal, 23rd Jan. 
Dattatreya Hosabale, Sarkaryawah of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), emphasized the unparalleled contributions of soldiers and athletes as symbols of India’s unity, pride, and honor. Speaking at the ‘Jijamata Samman’ ceremony organized by Kriya Bharati at Ravindra Bhavan, Bhopal, he said, “Soldiers and athletes carry the nation’s flag with pride. They represent the country, transcending caste, language, or regional barriers. The nation is eternally grateful to them.”

The event on Sunday saw the felicitation of mothers of six distinguished athletes. The ceremony was graced by Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya, Madhya Pradesh Sports and Youth Welfare Minister Vishvas Sarang, Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav, and National Executive Chairman of Kriya Bharati, Chetan Kashyap.

Recognizing Maternal Contributions

Hosabale highlighted the critical role of mothers in shaping medal-winning athletes. He likened them to Jijamata, the mother of Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj, who instilled resilience, patriotism, and strong values in her son despite adverse circumstances. He added that Kriya Bharati’s initiative reflects this ethos by celebrating the sacrifices and perseverance of athletes’ families.

The Minister also stressed the importance of promoting all sports, including traditional games like kho-kho, whose first World Cup recently concluded in Delhi. “India’s growing presence in global sports is a matter of pride, and Kriya Bharati ensures that sportsmanship is deeply rooted in values and culture,” he remarked.

Family as the Foundation

Underscoring the role of family in nurturing virtues, Hosabale said, “Families need to create an environment where youth develop strong morals. Negative influences like excessive mobile phone usage can be mitigated by positive familial settings, ultimately producing disciplined and responsible citizens.”

Inspirational Messages

Union Sports Minister Mansukh Mandaviya praised the initiative, emphasizing the transformative power of sports in character building and national pride. “When athletes win medals and hoist the tricolor, the pride felt by their families reverberates across the nation. Honoring mothers like Jijamata will inspire many more to raise champions,” he said.

Chief Minister Dr. Mohan Yadav commended the honored mothers and acknowledged their significant role in their children’s success. He cited the example of Devaki, the mother of Lord Krishna, who demonstrated immense courage and sacrifice for the greater good.

Honored Mothers

The following mothers were felicitated at the event:

  • Saroj Devi, mother of Olympic gold and silver medalist Neeraj Chopra (award received by Neeraj’s uncle, Bhim Singh).
  • Gauri Karmakar, mother of India’s first female gymnast, Dipa Karmakar.
  • Moni Devi, mother of Olympic boxer Lovlina Borgohain.
  • Usha Kumari, mother of former Indian hockey goalkeeper PR Sreejesh.
  • Kamla Devi, mother of Indian hockey player Vivek Sagar.
  • Shweta Lekhara, mother of Paralympic gold medalist Avani Lekhara.

Awards for Young Talent

Winners of Kriya Bharati’s national-level ‘Kriya Gyan Competition-2024’ were also felicitated. Parth Prajapat received the first prize of ₹1 lakh, while Dev Karelia and Abhishek Kumar were awarded ₹50,000 each as second prizes. Over one lakh students participated in the competition.

The event concluded with the unveiling of Kriya Bharati’s theme song, “Khel Khiladi Khel”, by Union Sports Minister Mandaviya. The occasion reinforced the significance of sports as a medium to unite and uplift the nation while celebrating the sacrifices of the unsung heroes behind every successful athlete.

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