President Presents Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award For Excellence In Public Administration, Academics And…

The President of India, Shri Pranab Mukherjee presented the ‘Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management’ 2013 to Dr. Rajendra Achyut Badwe, Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Professor & Head, Department of Surgical Oncology Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai at a function at Rashtrapati Bhavan today (October 01, 2013). The award carries a cash prize of Rs.5 lakhs, a citation and a plaque.

Speaking on the occasion, the President said that Lal Bahadur Shastri National Award for Excellence in Public Administration, Academics and Management, presented on the eve of Shastriji’s birth anniversary, is an occasion to remember the values and ideals for which he stood for. He said that in Shastriji’s memory, a person of high professional calibre and achievement who has devoted his or her life in the cause of the nation is honoured every year. Dr. Badwe is one among such people who have made exemplary contributions in the field of medicine. Dr. Badwe has several professional and academic achievements to his credit in the important area of surgical oncology. He expressed his hope that Dr. Badwe will continue to provide value to his profession and serve the society with the same dedication and commitment.

The President said that India is a land of boundless opportunities. This country has the potential to become one of the world’s greatest powers. For that, it has to build its soft power. It has to develop the capabilities of its citizens to the fullest extent possible. Adequate investment has to be made in the fields of education and health. But more importantly, it is the people who by their contribution have to make things happen. Men and women, who are capable; who are accomplished; and who can make a positive difference to the society, have to feel obligated to do their duty towards the nation, he said. Those who have the means to add value to our country’s journey of progress must have the right intentions. They must have an inner urge to do good for the society. They must have the motivation to enrich their professional experience by committing themselves to social progress. They must have the conviction to shoulder greater responsibility and perform what is expected of them, in the best possible manner.

The President stated that greatness and fame should not be confused. It is possible to achieve one without the other. But it is great deeds alone that can spur the society towards the higher objectives of equality, justice, liberty and fraternity. These are the values enshrined in the Preamble to our Constitution. Achieving these would require the people to come together and make the country’s cause their own cause. A solitary act of social good may not be apparent in its deep impact on society. Nevertheless, it has, he stated. Be it in the treatment of patients by a doctor, teaching of students by a teacher, building of a bridge by an engineer, tilling of the soil by a farmer, running of development programmes by an administrator, or setting up of a business by an entrepreneur, there are innumerable ways by which one can contribute. And there are many who can make extraordinary contributions. The President urged all to resolve to make their professional and personal lives count in the service of this nation and the progress of its people.

Dr. Rajendra Achyut Badwe is Director, Tata Memorial Centre, Professor & Head, Department of Surgical Oncology, Tata Memorial Hospital, Mumbai. He is an international opinion leader in oncology, developing breast cancer care strategies, innovative research, integrating delivery systems, improving quality and cancer management programs and capacity building of staff on cancer care delivery strategy and practice issues. His original research "On Timing of Surgery during The Menstrual Cycle for Operable Breast Cancer" has led to a paradigm shift in understanding of cancer biology and evolved cost- effective life-saving treatment globally. A Dorab Tata Scholar (1974- 1978), Dr Badwe has been a recipient of several prestigious international and national awards including Padmashree. His significant accomplishments in leadership in cancer care are a testimony to his role as a mentor in developing the cancer care strategy for Government of India and WHO. He leads the Innovation Council for Cancer Research and the team that is planning the national cancer centre for Government of India.

This release issued at 1930 hrs