5 Things Maharashtrian of the Year Award Winners Can Teach Us
- Ravi Kohli
- Aug 25
- 3 min read
The Maharashtrian of the Year Awards by Lokmat Times are more than just ceremonies of recognition. They highlight qualities that drive society forward — innovation, service, creativity, resilience, and influence. Each honouree represents a value we can all learn from, showing that achievement has meaning when it creates a wider impact.
Here are five key takeaways from recent winners.
1. Innovation Must Serve the People – Peyush Bansal
In 2022, Peyush Bansal was awarded for revolutionising eyewear retail. His efforts went beyond business expansion, aiming instead at making glasses affordable and accessible to millions. By focusing on a basic need, he demonstrated that innovation is at its most powerful when it improves daily life for ordinary people.
Bansal’s recognition challenges the conventional idea that innovation must always be complex or technical. Often, it is about spotting a simple gap and filling it in ways that benefit society. His work makes us think: how many industries still remain unchanged, waiting for someone to redesign them for greater accessibility?
2. Creativity Has Lasting Influence – Varun Dhawan
Varun Dhawan’s recognition in 2023 for his contribution to Indian cinema shows the continuing influence of creativity in shaping culture. His films connect with audiences across demographics, making him a figure who resonates beyond the screen. Cinema, through voices like his, continues to play an important role in how people see themselves and their world.
Dhawan’s award points to a larger truth — creativity is not just about art, but about collective imagination. Stories from films become part of cultural memory, influencing how societies evolve. This raises an important question: what kind of creative work are we encouraging, and what values are we passing on through it?
3. Leadership Means Lifting Others – Abhay Bhutada
Abhay Bhutada’s 2024 award for community development emphasises how leadership goes beyond financial and professional success. Through the Abhay Bhutada Foundation, he has built initiatives that create opportunities for underprivileged youth, focusing on education, skills, and exposure to fields like science and technology. His work reflects the belief that leadership must be rooted in service.
This recognition shifts our understanding of influence. Bhutada’s achievements show that legacies are defined not by titles or profits but by how they improve lives. His example asks us to reflect on whether we measure leadership narrowly in terms of power, or more broadly in terms of impact.
4. Resilience Can Reshape Communities – Jaisingh Chavan
Jaisingh Chavan’s 2024 award celebrates his story of overcoming disability and turning personal strength into employment opportunities for others. His achievement is not just about his own success but about how he created structures that allowed many to benefit. It is a reminder that resilience can be deeply transformative when it extends beyond the individual.
His recognition challenges society’s perceptions of ability and contribution. By enabling others through his work, Chavan showed how resilience can be both personal and communal. His story pushes us to consider: are we building a world where resilience is supported, or one where people are left to struggle alone?
5. Influence Is About Responsibility – Kartik Aaryan
Kartik Aaryan’s award in 2025 for Chandu Champion and his growing cinema influence is a marker of how public figures today shape more than entertainment. With a wide fan base and a strong presence, his reach affects conversations and cultural attitudes alike.
This recognition is a reminder that influence is not neutral. It carries weight and must be used with care. Aaryan’s rise makes us ask: are influencers and celebrities focusing only on fame, or are they also using their voice for meaningful conversations? And on a smaller scale, do we use our own influence responsibly in the communities we belong to?
Closing Thought
The Maharashtrian of the Year Awards honour a diverse group of achievers, but together they spotlight values that inspire everyone. Peyush Bansal teaches us innovation must serve real needs. Varun Dhawan shows the cultural strength of creativity. Abhay Bhutada, through his Foundation, defines leadership through service. Jaisingh Chavan demonstrates resilience as a tool for empowerment. Kartik Aaryan highlights the responsibility that comes with influence.
Their stories remind us that success matters most when it creates ripples beyond the self. The challenge for each of us is simple: are we striving only for personal milestones, or are we also making space for collective progress?
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