Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Thursday, 27 August declared that India's Padma honours — including the Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan, and Bharat Ratna — are reserved exclusively for those who dedicate their lives to public service without seeking recognition, not for recipients chosen on the basis of family ties or personal connections. Shah made the remarks while inaugurating the 'Gujarat Gaurav Sarovar' in Dudhala, Amreli district, as he praised philanthropist Savjibhai Dholakia for his water conservation work across Gujarat.

Shah's remarks on Padma awards

'Padma Shri, Padma Bhushan, Padma Vibhushan and Bharat Ratna... these awards are not for families, nor are they for acquaintances and relatives. These awards are for those who, without seeking praise, devote their entire lives to the people of Bharat Mata and the poor,' Shah said at the event.

He underscored this point by highlighting Dholakia's own reaction to receiving the Padma Shri in 2022 — that he had not applied for the honour. 'Savjibhai said, 'I did not even apply, and I was given the Padma Shri.' Savjibhai, after doing so much work for water conservation through 208 lakes, if you still have to apply, then our government would be considered useless if the government cannot see it,' Shah said.

Savjibhai Dholakia: The man behind 208 lakes

Savji Dholakia, founder and chairman of Hari Krishna Exports, was conferred the Padma Shri in 2022 for Social Work by then President Ram Nath Kovind at Rashtrapati Bhavan in March 2022. His philanthropic work spans water-conservation projects and the construction of lakes in water-scarce areas of Gujarat, with 208 lakes built over a lifetime of community service.

Shah said the impact of Dholakia's initiative extended beyond individual projects by fostering a broader culture of water conservation across Saurashtra. He also acknowledged the work of the Dholakia family's foundation in South Gujarat, including the construction of Hanuman temples, organisation of satsangs, and support for schools across villages in the region.

Shah urges expansion to 1,100 villages

Recalling discussions with Rajya Sabha MP Govind Dholakia, Shah said the foundation had undertaken initiatives in villages across South Gujarat, and he had personally urged the group to expand its reach. 'I have urged the group to expand the initiative beyond 250 villages to cover 1,100 villages,' he said.

Shah was also moved by tribal children's participation in the foundation's educational programmes, noting that children from tribal families were reciting Sanskrit shlokas and Durga Stavan. 'I was truly moved by the way children from tribal families and tribal villages were reciting Sanskrit shlokas and Durga Stavan,' he said.

A philosophy of giving

Reflecting on the Dholakia family's broader approach to philanthropy, Shah offered a metaphor for wealth and generosity. 'Money, brother, is the grace of the Almighty and Goddess Lakshmi that comes to many people. But when you consider Lakshmi as a daughter and send her to someone else's home, only then can it be said that you have truly worshipped Lakshmi,' he said.

Shah concluded by expressing hope that the water conservation initiatives in Amreli would inspire similar efforts across Saurashtra and Gujarat, as the region continues to grapple with water scarcity.