BCR NEWS (News Delhi) : Savita bhatti , a Punjabi actress, who had also worked in bollywood movies such as Fanaa (2006), Mere Dad Ki Maruti (2013) and Chakk De Phatte (2008), also the wife of late Jaspal Bhatti, the most popular social satirist in India, was conferred 11th ‘Kalpana Chawla Excellence Award’ by Kalpana Chawla’s father Shri Banarasi Lal Chawla at a Function held at India Islamic Cultural Centre, Lodhi road , Delhi on March 18th, 2015 by Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh Old Boys Association (PECOBA) in memory of its alumnus late astronaut Kalpana Chawla .
On the occasion , Savita Bhatti seemed emotional and said “ I am honoured to receive this award”.
Sunita Godara, the former Indian marathon runner, holding the record of running the maximum marathons run by an Indian, too was awarded the same . She became the national marathon champion first time in 1984 by winning Delhi Marathon and won medals in the Penang and Kedah marathons as well.
All the awardees graced Kalpana Chawla’s framed photograph with flowers.
PECOBA which was founded 48 years ago in 1967, is a non-political, non-profit making society of engineers who are alumni of Punjab Engineering College Chandigarh. Since 2003, every year they organizes a program of musical homage to Kalpana Chawla which tells the story of Kalpana Chawla’s life (from her childhood till her death in crash).
The Function ended with a unique programme of Musical Homage with live singing and visuals entitled “ Kalpana Ki Udaan, Naari Ka Samman:” produced by Cultural Society Sakha.
Speaking on the occasion Mr Amarjit Singh Kohli, General Secretary of PECOBA & Chairman Sakha said that immediately after Kalpana’s death, PECOBA had organised a Homage Assembly on 9th Feb, 2003 in New Delhi in which the following message was received from Mrs Sonia Gandhi, the then leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha.
“Today we pay homage to a remarkable young Indian who shone like a star throughout her brief life, illuminating our lives, and bringing pride and glory to India. … She was that rare person whose dedication, determination and quest for excellence matched her souring aspirations. Her brilliant career as an astronaut was achieved entirely through her own efforts – she pulled no strings, sought no favours, and she was willing to sacrifice her life to push forward the frontiers of human knowledge…. Kalpana’s life will continue to inspire generations of young Indians.
