‘Gujarat Gaurav Ratna Award’ For Padma Shri Yazdi Karanjia And Ruzan Khambatta

Bringing even greater pride onto our community, two Gujarat-based, extraordinary, shining Parsi stars will be bestowed the distinguished ‘Gujarat Gaurav Ratna Award’ for their exemplary contributions to the State and society.

Surat-based, iconic Gujarati theatre personality and recipient of the prestigious Padma Shri award, our most cherished actor par excellence – Yazdi Karanjia; and much respected for her pioneering work in women empowerment, Ahmedabad-based social entrepreneur and Founder at Force Empowerment Foundation, Ruzan Khambatta, will be felicitated with state honours on the eve of 7th August, 2021, in Ahmedabad, in a glittering event – ‘Honouring Great Gujaratis’.

An initiative by Dr. Shailesh Thaker Foundation, in association with Knowledge Plus Foundation and Association of Indian Americans in North America, the ‘Gujarat Ratna Gaurav Awards’ have been lauded by Vijay Rupani, CM, Gujarat who shared his appreciated on the event, “for felicitating Gujarati people who have given their best contribution to the society with their skills and knowledge.” 60 residents from across Gujarat will be felicitated on the occasion. The event will also witness the launch of the book titled, ‘Corona V/s Mankind’, authored by Dr. Shailesh Thaker.

Padma Shri Yazdi Karanjia reigns as the unparalleled stalwart of Gujarati and Parsi theatre for over four decades, and has been unceasingly entertaining the Parsi community with his excellent acting talent and incomparable comic-timing in theatre. Speaking with Parsi Times, Padma Shri Yazdi Karanjia said, “The invitation for bestowing me this honour came to me as a pleasant surprise! Receiving an honour from the nation and now from my state of Gujarat is indeed a very humbling experience. Accepting this recognition increases within me a sense of humility and positivity and I greatly regard and respect the sentiment. I am grateful for this recognition and plan to continue performing and perfecting my art.”

Ruzan Khambatta’s goal is to liberate India from crime against women and empower them. She has worked effectively and constantly towards this end. She has put to use ground-breaking technology, titled, ‘PoliceHEART 1091’ which has rescued thousands of women from potential crimes like rape, molestation, domestic violence and kidnapping. The technology does not require you to possess a smart phone or GPS – you don’t even need to speak! Just call 1091 and the police will find the location and rescue the victim.

Here’s heartily congratulating both our champions for doing the community, the Gujarat state and the country proud!