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YEAR - 1987

Committee headed by actress Shabana Azmi was held at the residence of the Minister of State for Education of Maharashtra, Ms. Chandrika Kenia. The Academy, taking up cudgels against the evil system of dowry, has been campaigning vigorously against all forms of social evil providing help including police protection, free legal aid and so on to complainants.

On the 6th of March, Chairman Mr. Nanik Rupani announced the names of winners of various awards in the Slogan Contest instituted by the Academy. On the 16th of April, a special Priyadarshni Trophy was awarded to Sunil Gavaskar, the great Cricketing Maestro, by Chief Minister of Maharashtra Mr. S. B. Chavan, Mr. Sushilkumar Shinde, Mr. Vilasrao Deshmukh, Mr. S. K. Wankhede and Mr. Ashok Patil, Minister for Sports were present at the ceremony.


In March 1987, Priyadarshni Academy once again started its campaign against bride burning and harassment of women. It provided help including police protection and legal aid. These tasks were entrusted to the Anti-Dowry committee set up by the Academy, with prominent cine actress Shabana Azmi as its Chairperson for the year 1986-87.

On 19th of September, the Third Annual Function and Awards presentation ceremony was held at Oberoi Towers, with the Minister of State for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Ajit Kurnar Panja, as its Chief Guest. It was a glittering affair with the 'cream' of society in attendance. The Collector of Bombay, Mr. A. P Shinha, was among those honoured for outstanding performance in public life. In the field of education, Rev. Fr. Aurelius Maschio, an Italian-bom parish priest who has been in Bombay since 1937 received the Academy's award for outstanding work in his sphere of activity. The others who received cash awards of Rs. 5,000/ were Mr. Vinayakrao Patil (Afforestation), Mr. Pravin Thipsay (Sports), Mr. Russell Pinto (Prevention of Drug Addiction), Ms. Tanvi Kiran (Smita Patil Memorial Award for films), Ms. Sonali Vajpai (upcoming talented artiste) and Mr. K. Sital (Overseas Indian Service Award). The ceremony was inaugurated by Union Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Ajit Kumar Panja, Smt. Prabha Rau, Minister for Revenue and Cultural Affairs, Maharashtra were among the principal speakers on the occasion.

Along with the Yashwantrao Chavan Pratisthan and Yuvak Biradri, the Academy organised a public meeting at the K. C. College Hall to mark the first death anniversary of Smita Patil, the outstanding film actress, where the convenor of the meeting, Mr. Nanik Rupani, announced a proposal for the setting up of a trust to perpetuate her memory.

The Music Award instituted by the Academy was renamed Kishore Kumar Music Award in memory of the great singer. This was announced by Mr. Nanik Rupani, in late October. In December 1987, the Academy allotted Rs. 12,000/- to be used during the ongoing year for promoting activities to encourage the student community through projects like essay contests and debates, sponsored by the Partha Institute of Personality Development.

Priyadarshni Academy proposes to launch music classes to provide coaching in vocal and instrumental music under the guidance of famous Music Director Kalyanji (of the Kalyanji Anandji Due) by the year 1989. A scheme to provide financial aid to young and talented candidates selected on an All India basis in Bombay is part of the project.