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‘Maharashtra No 1, only needs marketing’

Maharashtra chief minister Ashok Chavan lauds state at DNA, Zee 24 Taas Summit, honours Maharatnas.

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Maharashtra is the best, proclaimed a proud chief minister on Saturday. But Ashok Chavan also threw in a reality check.

“Where we lack is in marketing that fact,” he said, speaking at a felicitation ceremony, to mark the 50th year of the formation of the state.

Chavan’s words set the tone for the spectacular event, peppered with a laser show tracing Maharashtra’s great tradition of saints-warriors-modernity.

In association with the state government, DNA and Zee 24 Taas felicitated as Maharashtra Maharatnas social activist Abhay Bang, director Ashutosh Gowarikar, legendary classical singers Pt Bhimsen Joshi and Kishori Amonkar, poet-litterateur Mangesh Padgao-kar, cricket genius Sachin Tendulkar and scientist Anil Kakodar.    

They were feted for their achievements during their lifetime in their respective fields.

Chavan said these personalities were treasures of Maharashtra, with immense contribution in the fields of arts, culture and science.

The event, held at Hotel Taj President, was “a government of Maharashtra” affair, he added with a smile. It was also the precursor to the State Summit-Vision for Global Maharashtra, organised by DNA and Zee 24 Taas.

Saying it was an honour to be leading the state in its 50th year of formation, he pledged to take the state to greater heights.

He said Maharashtra was and is still the most sought-after destination for investments, because it has a conducive atmosphere. Taking a cue from Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra, Chavan said Maharashtra becomes an automatic choice for investment for many even without having to market it. “But it is now the norm that one should market oneself, even if you are the best,” the chief minister said.

“We have progressed well, and we have always attempted and succeeded in keeping the state ahead of others. But now there is competition. Where there is competition one can show our ability to achieve the best,” he said.

He said that there are political and other differences within the state but “all feel the same that Maharashtra should be ahead”. 

Four achievers in the year 2009-10 were honoured with Maharashtra Ratna awards. It included Krushna Patil, who as a 19-year-old became the first Maharashtrian woman ever to scale Mt Everest; Upendra Limaye, actor par excellence for his performance in Jogwa; Paresh Mokashi, director of Harishchandrachi Factory; and Ujjwal Nikam, best known as the special public prosecutor in the 26/11 or Kasab case.

Chavan lit the traditional lamp, with Zee group chairman Subhash Chandra and DB Corp chairman Ramesh Chandra Agarwal.
Tendulkar could not be present on the occasion as he is away in Sri Lanka for the Test series there; Pt Bhimsen Joshi, with ill-health restricting his movement, was represented by his son Srinivas. 

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