Friday 31 October 2014

Vocational Excellence Award to Prof.Dr.Yashwant Trivedi on 29-Oct-2014

October is the Vocational Service Month at Rotary.

Vocational Service focuses on:

·         Adhering to and promoting the highest ethical standards in all occupations

·         Recognizing the value of all useful occupations, not just those that are pursued by Rotarians

·         Contributing one’s vocational talents to meeting the needs of the community

During October, Rotary clubs are encouraged to focus on this important avenue of Rotary service.

One of the suggested activities for the Club is to present a vocational excellence award to someone in the community who has exemplified outstanding professional achievement and high ethical standards. The Vocational Excellence Award is awarded to an individual who may or may not be a Rotarian.  The Awardee is expected to have demonstrated vocational excellence of the highest order. In doing so, they are expected to have set a clear example to others.  Past President (PP) Rtn.Arvind Shah, Chairman – Vocational Excellence Awards Committee began the proceedings of the day by emphasizing the importance of Vocational Excellence Awards and also naming some of the earlier recipients of this award from our Club.

Rotary Club of Bombay West chose Prof.Dr.Yashwant R. Trivedi for conferring its Vocational Excellence Award for the year 2014.  The Award and Citation was presented to him by President Mohan Joshi in presence of PP Rtn.Dr.Mohanbhai Patel, PP Rtn.Arvind Shah and Rtn.Dr.Anand Gupta, Director – Vocational Service.  Prof.Dr.Trivedi was introduced to the members by PP Rtn.Dr.Mohanbhai Patel and the Citation presented to him was read out by Rtn.Hemant Joshi.

Prof.Dr.Yashwant Trivedi is a well-known poet and a writer who has authored over 150 books on subjects as varied as literature, aesthetics, poetics, philosophy and religion.  His works have been translated into several languages including Hindi, Marathi, English, Tamil and Telugu amongst Indian languages and Greek, French and German amongst foreign languages.  The Saurashtra University and The South Gujarat University have honoured him by prescribing his book “Parishesh” as text book at post-graduate level.  His poems are prescribed in SSC and HSC textbooks in several States in India.

As a Professor at University of Mumbai, he taught graduate and post-graduate students for 31 years, including teaching M.Phil students and being a Ph.D guide for doctorate students.  He has delivered over 5000 lectures on Literature, Arts, Religions, Philosophy, etc. at various universities and cultural institutions in India. He has also delivered 65 lectures at institutions in Europe and America.

Prof.Dr.Trivedi is also known for his activities related with social service and human welfare. Motivated by Rev.Vinobaji Bhave, he has served in rural areas for several years. He has inspited over 400 upcoming poets and writers, giving them exposure and helping them publish their books and articles.  Currently, he is rendering services as Chairman of Sahitya Samiti – Kala Gurjari and President of literary organization ‘Anandotsav’.

For his contribution to the literary world and other related activities, Prof.Dr.Trivedi has been conferred with 51 prizes, awards and medals, including Sur Singar Samsad’s National Award for Post-Independence Poetry, Soviet Land Nehru Award, 5 times Sahitya Akademi Prizes, Gujarati Sahitya Parishad Award, 1st Prize in Kavilok, Best Laureate Award for enriching Indian literature, Chandulal Selarka Award, Kakasaheb Kalelkar Award, Sheriff Dr.Mohanbhai Patel Award, Saraswati Sanman Award, Samajratna Dr.Dipchand Gardi Saraswati Sanman Award, Kanhaiyalal Munshi Award, Life Time Achievement Award from Human Society of India, Priyadarshini Academy – Smt.Chandaben Mohanbhai Patel Award, KalaGurjari Award, Dr.Mohanbhai Patel International Literary Excellence Award.

In his acceptance speech, Prof.Dr.Yashwant Trivedi said that an award from a renowned organization like Rotary is like a Oscar to him and he thanked to all the Rotarians for recognizing him with this great honour and respect.

Rtn.Dr.Anand Gupta thanked him and also thanked PP Dr.Mohanbhai Patel for volunteering and taking the responsibility of introducing such a great personality.  Dr.Gupta also thanked the Chairman of the Vocational Excellence Award Committee PP Rtn.Arvind Shah and his team comprising of PP Rtn.Nandlal Chawla, Rtn.Dr.Prakash Trivedi, Rtn.Mohanlal Gupta, Rtn.Jayant Vasani, Rtn.Sandeep Vasani and Rtn. Gaurang Mehta for their contribution in selecting the right nominee for the Vocational Excellence Award. 

At the end a standing ovation was given to Prof.Dr.Yashvant R. Trivedi as a mark of respect for his outstanding contribution to the society and to the world of literature.

-       Reported by Rtn.Dr.Anand Gupta