MUMBAI:  Actor Aamir Khan received the Maharashtrian of the Year award, instituted by Marathi daily Lokmat, at a function held recently.
 
Maharashtra Home Minister R.R.Patil too received the award but while Khan received the award in the entertainment category, Patil received it in the politics category. Others who received the award in various fields include Kalpana Joshi, Sanjay Gaikwad, Bhagwan Rampure, Kavita Raut, Dr Ravindra Kolhe and Smita Kolhe.
 
Maharashtra chief minister Prithviraj Chavan said, “Democratic systems and free media are true strengths of the state”. Lokmat director and Rajya Sabha MP, Vijay Darda, voiced concerns about malnutrition, slow industrial progress rate, and farmers’ suicide among other aspects plaguing society.
 
The jury members included former High Court judge B.N.Deshmukh, Dr Raghunath Mashelkar, Anna Hazare, Lila Poonawala, Gulzar, Rajdeep Sardesai and Dilip Vengsarkar. The event was also graced by Union Sports Minister Ajay Maken, state education minister Rajendra Darda, actors Jackie Shroff and Jeetendra and industrialist Gautam Singhania.