Lucknow, September 13 : All India Conference of Intellectuals had organized a grand 'UP Ratan' Award ceremony at City Montessori School, Gomti Nagar auditorium in which 11 illustrious figures of UP were awarded "UP Ratan Award" for their social services rendered for the cause of humanity. Lt. General K. M Seth, Former Governor of Chattisgarh awarded these grand personalities of UP. Renowned educationist and founder of CMS, Dr Jagdish Gandhi welcomed the honourable guests. On the occasion renowned thinkers and intellectuals presented their valuable opinions on the topic 'Economic Development and Role of Intellectuals', organized on the occasion. Celebration started with 'Vande Mataram'. Dr (Mrs) Rita Bahuguna Joshi, UP Congress President and earlier awarded with 'UP Ratan' Award also graced the occasion and congratulated and wished them happiness in future.

All India Conference of Intellectuals is a famous voluntary organization that has been organizing 'UP Ratan Award' to intelligentsia class, administrative officers, writer, journalists, educators, doctors and social workers. This year its 28th 'UP Ratan' award ceremony organized by AICOI. On the occasion the special guests included Mr R K Mittal, Sr. IAS Officer; Dr Jagdish Gandhi, renowned educationist and founder of CMS; Mr S K Garg, CMD, Eldeco; Dr A K Singh, Surgeon, Moradabad and Mr R C Dikshit, President, AICOI.

Chief Guest, Lt. General K M Seth, former Governor of Chattisgarh addressed the gathering and said that I feel proud and happy to honour the 11 illustrious figures of UP with 'UP Ratan Award' because you have achieved this its your utmost dedication, ideal, hard work and service to humanity, Expressing himself on 'Economic Development and Role of Intellectuals', the Chief Gust said that India has plenty of wealth but corruption gets it misused. He said that intellectual class can bring about desired change in it if they initiate. Key speaker of the function and former Hon'ble Judge of Delhi High Court, Mr Justice A K Srivastava said that in present age education, medicine and justice are very costly in our country. There are ample wealth and knowledge in our country . They are not properly exploited and we are still queued in the line of developing countries. He appealed to the intellectuals class to step forward and take initiative to inspire others.

In this grand award ceremony, Chief Guest and former Governor of Chattisgarh Lt. General K M Seth awarded 11 notable figures viz Prof. Balraj Chauhan, Vice-Chancellor, Dr Ram Manohar Lohia National Law University, Lucknow; Mr Justice Rajesh Tandon, P.O. Cyber Regulations Appeallate Tribunal, New Delhi; Mohd. Anis Ansari, IAS (Retd.), Lucknow; Shri Badri Nath Tewari, Author & Writer, Kanpur; Dr Raj Kumar, Neurosurgeon, SGPGI, Lucknow; Shri Ravi Arora, Social Worker, Moradabad; Mr Harender Singh, Social Worker, Bulandshahar; Shri Sudhir Singhal, Director, Manohar Lal Sarraf & Sons, Meerut; Shri Govind Prasad, Social Worker, Lucknow; Shri Shakti Vinay Shukla, Dy. Director, Fragrance & Flavour, Kannauj and Dr Asha Tripathi, Social Worker & Retd. Principal, Kanpur.

On this occasion, Founder of CMS and renowned educationist Dr Jagdish Gandhi said that peace and development are inter-dependent. The condition of world is worsening and if they don't think to establish peace in the world then the future of two billion children of the world will be left unsafe. Dr Gandhi emphatically said that action speaks louder than words. If world community imbibe the concept of Article 51 of the Constitution of India then the world can be saved from devastation. It is the need of the hour that intellectuals vow to make every possible efforts to establish peace and unity in the world.

President of All India Conference of Intellectuals, Mr R. C. Dikshit, admitted the opinion of renowned educationist Dr Jagdish Gandhi and said that they should not restrain themselves from making children good cultured and value based education should also be imparted to them along its material education. National Secretary of AICOI, Mr Prakash Nidhi Sharma, Advocate of Supreme Court extended his heartfelt gratitude to all and said that All India Conference of Intellectuals is a voluntary organization whose base is humanity, nationality and peace.

(Hari Om Sharma)
Chief Public Relations Officer
City Montessori School, Lucknow