“Someone begins an initiative, takes the first few steps, and then people in society feel inspired, ‘We too must contribute.’ Hence, I heartily congratulate all those who join hands, for such noble causes. Society too must express gratitude towards them.Those who have embraced the belief of Nar Seva Narayan Seva and have set an example through their selfless service and contributions in different fields,” said Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), Sarkaryavah Dattatreya Hosabale at the 10th edition of Sant Eshwer Samman on October 5, 2025, at the Bharat Ratna C Subramaniam Auditorium, New Delhi, marking the completion of a decade of “sewa”.
One must find a field of work in some form to repay the debt owed to society and the nation. Work should not be measured as small or big the spirit behind it is what truly matters. Everyone receives respect; society recognises such contribution. The selection committee here has worked diligently to identify people who have remained away from recognition, fame, or awards, yet have continued to serve society. They have also included those who support organisations such as Netra Kumbh, Matrichhaya Trust, and others engaged in diverse social causes, he said.
“Service to others, to work for others’ welfare is the true dharma, it is the very essence of this land. Our country’s tradition is rooted in paropakaar (selfless service). The cow gives milk for others, the tree bears fruit and offers shade for others, the river flows for others, even this human body exists for service to others, our ancestors taught us this”, he further said.
Referring to Swami Vivekananda’s views he said, Sacrifice(tyaag) and service (seva) are the two ideals embedded in the soil of Bharat. Swami Vivekananda had proclaimed this. Therefore, we must continue this tradition of Bharat in whatever field we choose, with dedication and self-will. This is how we strengthen Bharat; the essence of Bharat lies in seeing divinity within every human being. Swami Vivekananda saw god in common man he used to say, ‘I worship that God whom ignorant people call man.’”
“Hands that serve are more sacred than lips that pray. The spirit of service must always remain awakened in us. Often, people come forward to serve during crises when disasters strike, such as earthquakes or floods, we witnessed this spirit of service. During the COVID-19 pandemic, when millions of migrant workers from western and southern regions began walking towards their native villages in Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand, Bihar, or Odisha without transport, the society’s conduct was exemplary. Those people, despite their suffering, did not engage in violence or looting; they silently kept walking home. In other countries, armies had to be deployed and food riots occurred, but in Bharat, people maintained peace. Society too came forward providing raw ration, food, milk for children, footwear for those walking barefoot. Such scenes were truly remarkable”, he further said.
He said that, selfless service is nature of Bharatiyas. “This spirit of selfless service and compassion must remain ever strong. Serving others in times of crisis out of empathy is essential, service must not be limited to crises. It should become the very nature and of our society throughout life”, he said.
“No one should ever feel, ‘I am alone, orphaned, I have no one’, Ensuring that such a situation never arises for anyone must be the true duty of society, he concluded.
Notably, Sant Eshwer Smman is aimed at spotlighting the efforts of Bharat’s unsung heroes, those who work without seeking recognition, yet make a deep impact in their communities. The event was marked by the presence of civil society leaders, academicians, ministry officials, and social workers from across Bharat.
While addressing the gathering, Shivraj Singh Chauhan, Minister of Rural Development, said, “The real meaning of life lies in being of help to others. This is not something we are saying today, thousands of years ago, this very land gave a message to the world. It was here that the sages said, “Atmavat Sarvabhuteshu”, meaning all beings are like one’s own soul. Today, we honored those great souls who truly dedicated their lives in service to humanity. With folded hands and deepest respect, I bow down to them.”
Bhupender Yadav, Minister for Environment, in his address said, “In our country, the initiative of Swadeshi Bharat and Atmanirbhar Bharat means that every individual in society becomes self-reliant and progresses together in unity. That is why, in the coffee table book launched today, the subtitle “Building the Better Bharat” holds true only when we identify and honor those who work selflessly for the welfare of society. And this is exactly what the Sant Ishwar Foundation has been doing, a truly commendable effort.”
Speaking at the event, Kapil Khanna, Founder and Chairman of the Sant Eshwer Foundation, reflected on the journey, “Ten years ago, we began with a small vision, to honour the silent warriors of society. Today, while honouring these great individuals, we ourselves feel honoured, and so far in this journey, a well extended family has been formed.” He further added, “This year, all of us in the Sant Eshwar family decided to send out a stronger message to the society. That is why we have reduced the size of our invitation card to pocket size, because we want to save the environment and avoid unnecessary paper wastage.”
The annual award ceremony, dedicated to recognising selfless grassroots changemakers, honoured 18 exceptional individuals and organisations, disbursing ₹32 lakhs in grants across three award categories. Since its inception, the Sant Eshwer Samman has awarded over ₹3 crores to 153 social reformers, celebrating tireless efforts in tribal development, rural upliftment, women and child welfare, and contributions rooted in Bharatiya values.
A total of four exemplary individuals and organisations received the Vishisht Sewa Samman, each accompanied by a grant of ₹5 lakh in recognition of their transformative contributions. Govardhan Panda from Koraput, Odisha, was honoured for his relentless initiatives for the development of indigenous communities, while Devendrappa from Yadgir, Karnataka, received recognition for his groundbreaking programmes in rural development. The Jeevan Anand Sansthan, established by Kisanrao Anjana Babbanrao Chaure in Maharashtra and The Samarpan Foundation, founded by Shri Ravi Prakash in Uttar Pradesh, were acknowledged for their distinguished work in the categories of women and child development and special contributions, respectively.
Further embodying the spirit of selfless social service, 12 more humanitarians and NGOs were conferred the Sewa Samman with grants of ₹1 lakh each, spanning the same four service domains. For tribal development Mahamandaleshwar Raghunath Das ji Farsiwale Baba, Maharashtra; Dr Ambedkar Vanvasi Kalyan Trust, Gujarat; and Shri Katung Vaghe, Arunachal Pradesh, were awarded. Gramin Vikas Sangham, Andhra Pradesh; Rekha Prabhakar Chauhan, Maharashtra; and Nidhi Tripathi, Uttar Pradesh, were recognised for their lasting impact on rural development.
Additionally, under the Special Contribution Area Awards category, Shri Maringmei Gaingamlung, Manipur; Matru Chhaya Trust, Ponda; Keshav Sewa Dham Divyang Ashram, Madhya Pradesh, received the awards. Whereas, Kisanrao Anjana Babbanrao Chaure, Maharashtra; Chitra Shah, Puducherry; Manav Sewa Sansthan Educational & Social Welfare Trust, Bihar; and Potukuchi Srinivas, Telangana, were honoured for their incredible contribution to women and child development.
Besides, this year, two remarkable organizations, AWWA (Army Wives Welfare Association) and Netra Khumbh 2025 were recognised in Vishesh Sewa Samman category, a distinguished recognition that honours organisations whose large-scale work has created national impact. AWWA established in 1966, continues to empower Army families with skill development, education, and respectful care for war widows and Veer Naris. Netra Khumbh 2025, a monumental social movement at Mahakhumbh in Prayagraj, rendered free eye examination, medicines, glasses, and treatment to lakhs of devotees, preventing blindness and infusing hope. These organisations exemplify collective service that empowers communities at scale.
The ceremony began with a vibrant cultural performance, setting an emotional and patriotic tone. The audience was moved by powerful artistic acts, including Mallakhamb, dance dedicated to Ganapati Bappa and Mahadev, women empowerment showcased through Classical form Kathak, Rashtrabhakti performances and the impactful ‘Operation Sindoor’ dance act. A coffee-table book launch was also held, encapsulating a decade of inspiring journeys.
This year’s awards were structured across three categories, including, Vishisht Sewa Samman, Sewa Samman, and Vishesh Sewa Samman, sprawling over four areas of service – tribal development, rural development, women and child development, and a special contribution category based on Bharatiya thoughts encompassing art, literature, environment, self-reliance, and so on.
The prestigious Sant Eshwer Samman is an effort to bring light to stories of exceptional courage, compassion, and humanity, experiences that have the power to inspire millions and encourage them to adopt the same values in their lives.
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