Sonu Sood Steals The Show, Honoring 43 Real-Life Heroes At Samaj Gaurav Awards 2026

Actor and philanthropist Sonu Sood felicitated 43 individuals and organisations at the Samaj Gaurav Awards 2026 in Ahmedabad, in an event focused on recognising work across business, healthcare, education, social service, entrepreneurship and community development.

The awards, organised by Raftaar Headline News, were held at The Forum, Shela-Bopal. The event brought together business leaders, doctors, educationists, startup founders, social organisations, media professionals and public figures from Gujarat and other regions.

Sood attended the ceremony as chief guest and underlined the importance of recognising people whose work goes beyond professional success. “True success lies in creating a positive impact on people’s lives. Such platforms play a vital role in recognizing and inspiring individuals who are contributing selflessly towards nation-building and social progress,” he said.

Samaj Gaurav Awards 2026 recognises work across sectors

The 2026 edition of the Samaj Gaurav Awards covered a wide range of fields, including healthcare service, industrial leadership, real estate, education, hospitality, environmental sustainability, journalism, women’s safety, child welfare, outdoor media, cultural contribution and community service.

Among the awardees were Smt Dimple Goenka, who received the Women Entrepreneur Excellence Award, Shri H. P. Gupta, who was honoured for lifetime social service and business excellence, and Mr Dinesh Singh Kushwah, who received recognition for community leadership and social impact.

Other recipients included Shri Shital Sultaniya for leadership in education and social impact, Shri P. R. Kankariya for social impact and community leadership, and Shri Gopiram Gupta for community service. Mr Harshad Mistry was recognised as an “Architect of Excellence”, while Mr Arun Agarwal received the Inspirational Leadership Award.

The healthcare category included Dr Hasmukh Agarwal, Dr Tejendrasinh Rajput, Dr Rajesh K. Dawrani and Dr Mitul Patel. Their awards covered healthcare service, neuro healthcare, orthopaedic excellence, healthcare innovation, joint replacement and orthopaedics.

Education and youth-oriented recognition also formed a major part of the evening. Mr Mahendra Yadav received the Excellence in Education Award, while Kumari Diya Samir Shukla was honoured as a Young Cultural Icon. Dr Shraddha Rajput received recognition for work linked to women and child welfare.

Leadership, social responsibility and public impact in focus

The event was attended by Ved Prakash, Divisional Railway Manager, Ahmedabad Division, Apurva Goenka of Goenka Hospital, and IAS officer Anju Sharma. According to the organisers, the dignitaries spoke about leadership, social responsibility and excellence as important forces in public life and community development.

Mukesh Goyal, Managing Director of Raftaar Headline News, said the awards were intended to highlight people whose work creates measurable social value. “The Samaj Gaurav Awards are more than just a recognition platform; they are a celebration of individuals whose work creates meaningful change in society. Our objective is to spotlight such changemakers and inspire future generations through their journeys,” he said.

Representing the Ayodhya Group, Sameer Shukla and Himanshu Agrawal said the initiative supported a wider culture of excellence and positive social transformation. They also said such platforms help deserving achievers gain wider recognition for their work.

Mahesh Kushwaha, Chairman of Isha Real Estate Developers, said honouring individuals who contribute to society and nation-building can serve as a source of inspiration, especially for younger people entering professional and public life.

Full list of awardees announced by organisers

The awardees list included Mr Kishandas Agarwal, Mr Jitubhai Malaviya, Mr Dinesh Jagnani, Shri Atul Mishra, Mr Kailash Kabra, Shri Tejendra Singh Chauhan, Mr Nirnay Kapoor, Mr Ajay K R, Shri Rajkumar Bhakkar, Smt Usha Agarwal, Mr Nikul Singh Tomar, Mr Shailesh Tibrewal, Shri Manoj Maurya, Shri Sharad Agarwal and Shri Rajendra Singh Rathod.

Other honourees were Dr Ketan Sheth, Mr Sunil C Bohara, Mr Barun Agarwal, Mr Amandeep Singh Gotra, Mr Vinod Agarwal, Mr Nishuraj Gupta, Mr Sanjay J Raval, Dimple Shah, Shri Pravincharan Dhwari, Shri Bhupeshbhai Prajapati, Rahul Tiwari and Shri Rahul Agrawal.

Dimple Shah was named in two categories: Excellence in Drug-Free India Mission and Women Business Leadership. The organisers also recognised contributions in textile and social leadership, sales leadership, environmental development, infrastructure and urban development, finance, hospitality, jewellery retail, film production and outdoor media.

The ceremony reflected a broader trend among regional recognition platforms that seek to bring local achievers, entrepreneurs and social workers into public attention. For awardees working outside national visibility, such events can help build networks, credibility and community support.

The Ahmedabad event closed with the organisers reiterating their focus on recognising people involved in social progress, professional excellence and public service. With 43 awardees across multiple sectors, the Samaj Gaurav Awards 2026 positioned itself as a platform for celebrating local leadership and community-oriented work.