Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde Honoured with ‘Commonwealth Public Leadership Recognition’ Award
London, September 2026 : The historic House of Lords, the Upper House of the British Parliament that has echoed with the voices of leaders from across the world, reverberated with the chant of ‘Jai Maharashtra’ on Tuesday. The occasion was the presentation of the prestigious ‘Commonwealth Public Leadership Recognition’ award to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde.
As Shinde was honoured with the award, Marathi language and Maharashtra’s identity took centre stage in the historic chamber. Beginning his address with “Namaskar – Jai Maharashtra” in Marathi, Shinde expressed his pride in his mother tongue while highlighting Maharashtra’s development journey.
The gathering erupted into applause when he said that his outlook towards working for ordinary people had been shaped by witnessing the hard work and struggles of his mother and wife.
Shinde said Mumbai and London are both important global financial centres and that there is significant scope for cooperation between Maharashtra and Britain in areas such as fintech, green energy, green hydrogen, deep tech and skill development.
The event was organised at the House of Lords jointly by the UK Asian Business Council and Canvas for Care Creative Art Campus. Former First Minister of Northern Ireland, the Honourable Baroness Arlene Foster, UK Asian Business Council Chairman Andrew Grocock, Council Vice-Chairman Sudeep Sakal, members of the Houses of Parliament, senior British ministers, mayors, ambassadors from various countries, global entrepreneurs and dignitaries from Commonwealth nations attended the ceremony.
The citation accompanying the award stated that Shinde was being honoured for the citizen-centric, transparent and innovative governance practices implemented during his tenure as Chief Minister and subsequently as Deputy Chief Minister. It specifically mentioned initiatives such as the ‘Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana’, aimed at promoting women’s economic empowerment, and ‘Shasan Aplya Dari’, which seeks to take government services directly to citizens’ doorsteps.
Recognition of Maharashtra People’s Hard Work
Speaking about Maharashtra’s development journey, Shinde said it was built on three fundamental principles — Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj’s vision of Swarajya, Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar’s philosophy of social justice, and governance that places the common citizen at the centre.
He said the award was not merely a personal honour but a recognition of the hard work, aspirations and development journey of the people of Maharashtra.
Quoting poet Suresh Bhat’s famous lines, “Labhale Aamhas Bhagya, Bolto Marathi… Jhalo Kharach Dhanya, Aikto Marathi…”, Shinde presented Maharashtra’s identity to the world through his mother tongue.
Modi is India’s Visionary and Dynamic Leader
While presenting Maharashtra’s development story before the British Parliament, Shinde also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership.
He described Modi as “India’s visionary and dynamic leader” and said that the Prime Minister had been honoured with the highest civilian awards by more than 36 countries. Under Modi’s leadership, India is moving towards playing a greater role in global leadership, Shinde said.
India-UK Relations Entering a New Golden Era
Shinde said India-UK relations are entering a new golden era, driven by the strength of the philosophy of Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam — the world is one family — highlighted by Prime Minister Modi.
He also described the more than 70,000 Maharashtrians living in the UK as an important human bridge between India and Britain.
Lessons from His Mother and Wife
Recalling his humble beginnings, Shinde said he came from a small farming family and was not born into an affluent household.
He said he had seen his mother and wife working tirelessly day and night without complaint. These experiences, he said, helped him understand the hardships and tears of ordinary people and shaped his approach to public service.
Referring to the Mukhyamantri Majhi Ladki Bahin Yojana and Shasan Aplya Dari, he highlighted their role in women’s empowerment and delivery of government services.
“I have one sister, but because of the Ladki Bahin Yojana, I have received crores of sisters,” Shinde said, drawing applause from the audience.
He said the Ladki Bahin scheme has encouraged women’s economic independence, with positive effects on family health, nutrition and children’s education. Through Shasan Aplya Dari, government services have been taken to villages across Maharashtra, and he claimed that more than five crore citizens had benefited from various documents, certificates and welfare schemes.
Shinde also highlighted social initiatives including a separate department for persons with disabilities, a transgender policy, government assistance for girls pursuing higher education and the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance Cell for needy citizens.
Development Means Dignity for Every Citizen
Shinde said development should not be measured merely by roads, bridges, metros or tall buildings. True development, he said, means ensuring that opportunities reach every section of society and that every citizen can live with dignity.
He said this vision guided initiatives such as the Ladki Bahin scheme, Shasan Aplya Dari, assistance for girls’ higher education, a separate department for persons with disabilities, the transgender policy and the Chief Minister’s Medical Assistance initiative.
Maharashtra’s Rapid Development
Describing Maharashtra as India’s industrial and economic powerhouse, Shinde said the state contributes around 14 per cent of India’s GDP and attracts more than 30 per cent of the country’s foreign direct investment.
He highlighted ambitious infrastructure projects including Vadhavan Port, the Samruddhi Mahamarg, Atal Coastal Bridge and Mumbai Coastal Road, saying Maharashtra is progressing rapidly.
Shinde said Maharashtra has set a target of becoming a US$1 trillion economy by 2030.
Inviting British businesses to invest in Maharashtra, he said there are significant opportunities for collaboration between Maharashtra and London in green energy, sustainable infrastructure, fintech, deep tech, education and skill development.
Concluding his address, Shinde said his approach of “I am a common man”, which guided him during his tenure as Chief Minister, continues to remain at the core of his public service. He reiterated his commitment to working for ordinary citizens.
