Ravi Shankar Rai

“Purvanchal Mahotsav Maati 9”

Being honored with the “Maati Samman” at the Purvanchal Mahotsav Maati 9, held on 31 March 2026 at Gandhi Darshan, Rajghat, New Delhi, is for me a prize even greater than an Oscar.

On 11 March, I received a phone call from Mr. Asif Azmi, representing Maati, informing me that I had been nominated for the award. That was my first introduction to the organization and its annual event. During the call, I remarked that I felt like "garbage" and had not yet truly become "soil" (Maati). Following our conversation, I received the official invitation and a request to arrive at Gandhi Darshan by the end of the month.

The stage was graced by esteemed dignitaries, including the Hon’ble Speaker of the Lok Sabha, Shri Om Birla Ji; Former Chief Minister of Uttar Pradesh and Member of Parliament ,Shri Jagdambika Pal Ji; Padma Bhushan awardee, Shri Ram Bahadur Rai Ji; and Member of Parliament, Shri Rajeev Kumar Rai Ji. When my name was announced, I was overwhelmed with emotion. Sitting alongside such eminent personalities felt like a dream. Listening to them closely, I realized that reaching such heights while remaining humble is a rare feat; we all learned a great deal from their simplicity.

I shared this honor with other distinguished recipients, including Shri Faiz Ahmed Kidwai (Director General, DGCA), Shri Praveen Kumar Singh (Agriculture Commissioner), and Shrimati Vandana Singh (Vice-Chancellor, Veer Bahadur Singh Purvanchal University). The anchor, Ms. Jyoti Taneja, announced that each of us would have only one minute to speak. Personally, I have never been one to strictly respect time constraints; in fact, I had already prepared a four-page speech! However, I managed to condense my thoughts and finish in exactly 54 seconds-a significant personal achievement and a lesson in brevity.

The festival was inaugurated with the ceremonial lighting of the lamp by Shri Kapil Mishra (Cabinet Minister, Delhi), Shri Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh (Former MP), and Shri Vijay Goel (Former Cabinet Minister). The atmosphere was further enriched by a poetry session featuring Shri Dilip Pandey, Shri Kaleem Qaisar, and the humorist Shri Nar Kankal. A Bhojpuri comedy play, Master Ganeshi Ram by Shri Mahendra Prasad, left the audience in stitches, and the event concluded with a high-energy performance by the Indian Ocean band.

The gathering also saw the presence of Shri Amitabh Kant (Former CEO, NITI Aayog), Shri M. Nagaraju (Secretary, Ministry of Finance), and other leaders like Shri R.K. Singh (YEIDA CEO), Shri Manoj Dubey (IRFC CEO ). Beyond the stage, the event was a cultural feast. Visitors enjoyed traditional Purvanchal delicacies like Puri-Tarkari,Bhauri-Chokha, Dal mein ka dulhin, and Laung lata. Stalls showcasing Banarasi sarees and exhibitions dedicated to Baba Kabir Das were major highlights.

Success and failure are two sides of the same coin. Every success inspires us, and every failure teaches us. Over the past 25 years, I have received many awards, but each one serves as a reassurance that I am on the right path.

When I left my village at the age of 15, I promised its soil that I would return every year on December 31st and January 1st, no matter where I was in the world. To this day, that soil has never broken its promise, calling me back home every year by December 30th.

I bow to the soil of Purvanchal. I bow to my parents and ancestors, whose blessings allowed me to be born of this earth. I bow to the heroes, the elders, seniors, companions, mothers, sisters, and the children of this land.

Once again, I bow to the workers of this sacred soil and accept the Maati Samman on their behalf.

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I’m humbled and honoured to share that Business Today , one of India’s most respected magazines, has featured my leadership journey and philosophy- one rooted in the belief that enterprises must be built not only for growth, but for lasting social and economic impact.

This recognition is a reflection of the trust placed in me by clients, colleagues, and partners, and of the incredible teams who work every day with purpose and integrity.

I remain deeply committed to building institutions that empower people, strengthen industry, and contribute meaningfully to India’s progress.
Grateful for the journey so far-and energised for the work ahead. 🇮🇳

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