Nagpur Heroes Awards 2025 Honours Unsung Champions in Grand Ceremony

Nagpur: The spirit of selfless dedication filled the air as The Times of India hosted the prestigious Nagpur Heroes Awards 2025 on Sunday at Hotel Airport Centre Point. Union minister Nitin Gadkari, the chief guest, felicitated ten remarkable individuals whose relentless efforts in their respective fields have left an indelible mark on society. The awards had HCG as the health partner, and Galaxy Solar as the associate partner.
This year's awardees included Dr Vilas Dangre for his contributions to healthcare, senior advocate Firdos Mirza for his impact in the legal field, and Rachna Singh for her dedication to education. Also honoured were badminton champion Malvika Bansod, chess prodigy Divya Deshmukh, and table tennis champion Jennifer Varghese for their excellence in sports. Rupesh Pawar was recognised for his contributions to theatrical arts, while Bhagyashree and Sachin Deshpande were lauded for their efforts in rural education. Riya Ballikar was awarded for her contributions to healthcare, and Mrinmayee Kulkarni for her work in cultural promotion. Each of them, in their own way, have worked tirelessly for a cause greater than themselves, earning the admiration of the city.
The event saw an overwhelming response from the audience, with prominent personalities from various fields coming together to celebrate the spirit of selflessness and excellence. President of Vidarbha Economic Development Council (VED) Rina Sinha, who once served as a jury member for Nagpur Heroes, shared her thoughts on the initiative. "It is a tough job to award a title to someone. As a former jury member for this event, I'm extremely glad that almost all the fields are covered in terms of awarding excellence. A very, very worthy initiative by The Times of India," she said.
Jasbir Singh Arora, owner of Centre Point Hotel, Ramdaspeth, expressed his delight at being part of the event. "I wasn't even in the city, but as soon as I landed, I thought of visiting. I am very glad I didn't miss such an event," he remarked.
First-time attendee CA Zulfesh Shah spoke about the impact of the ceremony. "This was my first time attending an event like this, and it reminded me of the unsung heroes of the city. I always look for ways to help people grow, but after meeting the awardees here, I am inspired to work for public welfare even more," he said.
Tejinder Singh Renu, president of the Nagpur Residential Hotels Association (NRHA), described the experience of receiving the Nagpur Heroes award as an unforgettable moment. "Receiving this honour from a renowned figure like Union minister Nitin Gadkari made it even more special," he said.
The ceremony left a lasting impression on all attendees, including director of Symbiosis Institute of Technology, Nagpur, Nitin Rakesh, who summed up the evening in a single thought: "It was a wonderful programme. It was meant to identify and motivate people who are doing something for Nagpur."
With every award presented, every story told, and every round of applause that filled the room, Nagpur Heroes Awards 2025 once again proved that true greatness lies in the selfless service of others.
With inputs by Sukirti Kapgate, N Soumya, Shravani Wankhede