Swatantryaveer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak awards announced

Mumbai, May 22 (UNI) The Veer Savarkar Rashtriya Smarak today announced here today that Major Manish Hiraji Pitambre of the Third Parachute Regiment, who was killed in an encounter with terrorist groups in Kashmir recently, has been chosen for the bravery award.

The award is given in the memory of freedom fighter Vinayak Damodar Savarkar.

The Savarkar memorial award will also be given to Arun Joshi from Nagpur, Madhav Rao Khadilkar from Mumbai and Milind Ekbote from Pune. Joshi has contested many elections to spread the teachings and followings of Savarkar and in 1975 had established Veer Savarkar Bhavan.

The awardees even include, Sayali Pendharkar (14) from Pune, who swam from Mori Jetty [Uran] to Gateway of India in 2 hours 59 minutes and Purna Dalvi (13). Dalvi will be felicitated for shooting.

The award ceremony, to be held on May 28 at the Smarak, will be attended by Major General [retd] N Sapre and Smarak president Dattatreya Shekatkar among others.

UNI