Ramoji Excellence Awards Honour Real Heroes Of Society: CMD

Hyderabad: Chairman and Managing Director of the Ramoji Group, Ch Kiron, on Sunday, said the Ramoji Excellence Awards honours real heroes of society and individuals who have quietly transformed lives with courage, compassion and commitment.

Speaking at the inaugural Ramoji Excellence Awards function at the Ramoji Film City in Hyderabad, Ch Kiron said, "Our beloved Chairman Sri Ramoji Rao Garu was a man of vision and extraordinary resolve."

He said Sri Ramoji Rao was "a leader who believed that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary results when guided by purpose and discipline."

"He showed us that enterprise and ethics can co-exist, and that business must always serve a higher cause - the progress of the people and nation. He often reminded us that enterprise without ethics is empty and success without service is shallow. That conviction shaped not only the Ramoji Group, but also generations of people who worked with him and learnt from his example," the CMD said.

He emphasised that each awardee was selected after a rigorous exercise of poring over 900 profiles.

Ramoji Excellence Awards, he said, is the Group's "humble tribute to the timeless spirit (of Sri Ramoji Rao). Through these Awards, we honour real heroes of the society, individuals who have quietly transformed lives with courage, compassion and commitment."

"Each awardee has been selected from amongst over 900 profiles, and those we celebrate today reflect the same principles - our Chairman left by - Purpose with Passion, Courage with Compassion, and Service with Selflessness," he explained.

The CMD said that four of the seven awardees were women, a fact that would have delighted Sri Ramoji Rao, who fought for women's empowerment.

"We are also happy to note that four out of the seven awardees this year are women. This is something that would have deeply delighted our Founder Chairman (Sri Ramoji Rao). All through his life, he fought for women empowerment, championed for their dignity, and opened doors for their advancement. It became a philosophy of the Ramoji Group that women's leadership and participation are essential for a progressive society. And today's awards beautifully reaffirm that belief," he said.

On the awardees, he said, the Group sees the living spirit of India "- strong, selfless and full of hope" in their work. He added that as a family and an Institution, the Group would take this both as its duty and destiny, to carry forward Sri Ramoji Rao's dream of "recognising goodness, professional excellence and service to humanity."

"We intend to make this a continuing mission, expanding these awards every year to discover and honour more changemakers from across the country… that will be our way of keeping alive the ideals the founder Chairman (Sri Ramoji Rao) cherished most - hard work, humility and hope," he said.

Awardees of the Ramoji Excellence Awards 2025

1. Excellence in Journalism
   Awardee: Jaideep Hardikar
   A distinguished journalist and author, Hardikar has spent over two decades reporting on India’s rural realities with deep empathy and insight. His work amplifies marginalised voices and brings the human dimensions of development to national attention.
2. Youth Icon Award
   Awardee: Srikanth Bolla
   Founder & Chairman of Bollant Industries and an MIT alumnus, Bolla has become a national symbol of resilience and inclusive leadership. His enterprise empowers people with disabilities while advancing sustainable manufacturing.
3. Excellence in Art & Culture
   Awardee: Prof. Sathupati Prasanna Sree
   A visionary scholar who created scripts for 19 tribal languages, Prof. Sree has revolutionised the preservation of India’s indigenous literary heritage. As Vice-Chancellor of Adikavi Nannaya University, she continues to champion cultural identity and linguistic empowerment.
4. Excellence in Rural Development
   Awardee: Amla Ashok Ruia
   Popularly known as the “Water Mother,” Ruia has transformed drought-prone villages through innovative water-harvesting initiatives. Her work through Aakar Charitable Trust has restored livelihoods, water security, and hope across rural India.
5. Excellence in Service to Mankind
   Awardee: Akash Tandon
   Founder of Pehchaan – The Street School, Tandon has built a movement providing education to thousands of underprivileged children in Delhi-NCR. His mission nurtures dignity, opportunity, and empowerment for marginalised communities.
6. Women Achiever Award
   Awardee: Pallabi Ghosh
   A fearless crusader against human trafficking, Ghosh has rescued over 10,000 women and children and impacted more than 75,000 lives. Through the Impact and Dialogue Foundation, she leads national efforts in rescue, rehabilitation, and reintegration.
7. Excellence in Science & Technology
   Awardee: Prof. Madhavi Latha Gali
   A pioneering geotechnical engineer at IISc Bengaluru, Prof. Latha contributed to major national infrastructure projects, including the Chenab Railway Bridge. As Chair of the Centre for Sustainable Technologies, she continues to drive innovation and mentor the next generation of engineering leaders.

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