Events
Celebrating Excellence: 21st BANA Ceremony Illuminates World Peace Dome

The 21st Bharat Asmita National Awards (BANA) turned the World Peace Dome in Loni Kalbhor, Pune, into a source of inspiration on February 3rd, 2025. Under the theme 'Saluting Excellence, Inspiring Generations,' the event united prominent figures who have influenced India's advancement in multiple fields.
The event began with age-old customs - the global peace prayer, the ceremonial ringing of the democracy bell, and the illumination of the customary lamp. Students from MIT-WPU captivated the audience with an enchanting performance to the Bharat Asmita theme song, which was succeeded by the national song 'Vande Mataram.' A touching moment of silence paid tribute to the late Shyam Benegal's contributions to the BANA Committee.
Executive President Dr. Rahul V. Karad greeted esteemed guests, notably Special Guest of Honor Dr. Tayeb A Kamali, Former Vice Chancellor of UAE's Higher Colleges of Technology. In a significant announcement, Dr. Karad revealed the unification of BANA celebrations with MIT-WPU's Founder’s Day, honouring Prof. Vishwanath D. Karad's birthday.
This year's esteemed awards acknowledged outstanding individuals in the following fields:
- Prof. Bharat Bhasker (IIM Ahmedabad) for excellence in Management Education
- Shri Vivek Agnihotri for outstanding contributions to Direction
- Shri Shekhar Sen for remarkable achievements in Music
- Dr. Soumya Swaminathan for pioneering work in Science & Technology
- Dr. Abhay Bang for lifetime dedication to social service
Padma Bhushan Dr. Raghunath Mashelkar emphasised the importance of collective growth, while MIT-WPU Founder Prof. Vishwanath D. Karad shared insights about his vision and thoughts on collaborative growth. The celebration culminated in an enriching panel discussion with the awardees. The evening reached its crescendo with cultural performances by MIT students and a spellbinding live concert by Padma Shri Kailash Kher.
Since its inception in 2005, BANA has consistently recognised visionaries who exemplify innovation and dedication to national progress, offering substantial prize money, certificates, and mementoes across various categories. The ceremony highlighted MIT-WPU's commitment to holistic education, featuring unique modules in peace studies, inter-religious faith, experiential learning, rural immersion programs, and much more, all aimed at fostering social transformation with a global perspective.





