Honouring the Brave and the Vigilant : A Tribute to Patriotism
Pune, June 23, 2025 – In a ceremony held at the Symbiosis International University auditorium, Union Minister Nitin Gadkari honored Colonel Dr. Vasant Ballewar, Dean of QMTI, and 20 disabled soldiers for their remarkable contributions. The event, organized by the Marathi Patrakar Sangh under the theme “Desh Pratham” (Nation First), aimed to recognize and appreciate the dedication and service of these individuals.
During the ceremony, medals and mementos were presented to the awardees as a token of appreciation for their selfless service to the nation. The event also honored several journalists for their outstanding work in journalism, recognizing their role in upholding the values of truth and integrity in reporting.
The “Desh Pratham” initiative emphasizes the importance of putting the nation first and acknowledges the contributions of individuals who have made a significant impact in their respective fields. The ceremony was attended by distinguished guests, and the awardees were felicitated for their remarkable achievements.
This event highlights the importance of recognizing and appreciating the contributions of individuals who have served the nation, including those who have made sacrifices and contributions in various fields..
Queen Mary’s Technical Institute
Queen Mary’s Technical Institute was founded in 1917 in Bombay, India by Lady Marie Willingdon as Queen Mary’s Technical School for disabled soldiers. It moved to Pune in 1923.[1]
Lady Marie Willingdon, the wife of the Governor of Bombay, founded the School in May 1917 to help thousands of Indian Soldiers in Bombay who had become disabled during World War I. It moved to Pune in 1923. It was started with personal donation of rupees 10 Lakhs (one million rupees) each from Queen Mary and Lady Marie Willingdon. Its name was changed from Queen Mary’s Technical school to Queen Mary’s Technical Institute in 1966.[2][3] It is run as a charitable educational institution and its trustees are selected serving and retired officers from Indian Army, Navy and Air Force.
Goals and objectives
Its admission is open to disabled personnel of the Indian Army and other paramilitary forces. It provides vocational training to disabled personnel to help them be self-sufficient and helps them reintegrate into the mainstream and help them earn a livelihood independently.