Maharashtra’s First Health Literature Festival to be Inaugurated by CM Devendra Fadnavis on October 19 in Pune.

Dr. Smita and Dr. Ravindra Kolhe to receive ‘Maharashtra Arogya Bhushan’ Award; Day-long event to blend health awareness, literature, and cultural performances

PUNE: The city is set to witness a unique confluence of health and literature as the first-ever ‘Arogya Sahitya Sammelan’ (Health Literature Festival) will be held on Sunday, October 19, 2025, at Bal Gandharva Rangmandir, Pune. The full-day event, scheduled between 9 AM and 9 PM, will be inaugurated at 10 AM by Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, under the distinguished chairmanship of noted author and health expert Dr. Sanjay Oak.

Announcing the event, organising committee chairperson Umesh Chavan said the initiative is a collaborative effort to promote health literacy through the medium of literature, dialogue, and direct community engagement.

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A Star-Studded Opening Ceremony

The inaugural session will see a strong presence of national and state-level dignitaries. Union Minister Murlidhar Mohol, veteran actor Dr. Mohan Agashe, renowned musician Dr. Salil Kulkarni, Chitrapat Mahamandal President Meghraj Raje Bhosale, DY Patil University Trustee Yashraj Patil, and MLA Siddharth Shirole are all set to attend the ceremony.

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Organizers Join Hands for a Common Cause

The Sammelan is being jointly organized by reputed bodies including the Rugna Hakka Parishad, Chief Minister’s Relief Fund, Charitable Hospital Help Desk (Mumbai), Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Chitrapat Mahamandal, Akhil Bharatiya Marathi Natya Parishad, Bal Gandharva Parivar Trust, Pune Municipal Corporation, Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad, and Grand Prithvi Medical Foundation.

In conjunction with the Sammelan, a ‘Pune Arogya Mahotsav’ (Pune Health Festival) is being launched, with the ambitious goal of offering free health checkups to 25,000 to 40,000 people. Pune’s top hospitals and expert doctors will conduct screenings for citizens, artists, journalists, and literary figures.

Chavan urged Puneites to take advantage of the health services and attend the intellectually enriching sessions, especially in the festive lead-up to Diwali.

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Thought-Provoking Discussions and Celebrations Throughout the Day

‘Towards a Drug-Free Maharashtra’ Panel at 11:30 AM

Shortly after the inauguration, a panel discussion titled ‘Let’s Create a Drug-Free Maharashtra’ will feature Pune Police Commissioner Amitesh Kumar, filmmaker Pravin Tarde, and Anti-Narcotics DIG Pravin Kumar Patil, with Dr. Milind Bhoi as chairperson.

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‘Maharashtra Arogya Bhushan’ Awards at 1:00 PM

In a proud moment for Maharashtra, Padma Shri awardees Dr. Smita and Dr. Ravindra Kolhe will be felicitated with the ‘Maharashtra Arogya Bhushan’ award by Higher and Technical Education Minister Chandrakant Patil. Also present will be entrepreneur Puneet Balan, actor Dr. Girish Oak, former IMA President Dr. Avinash Bhondwe, Dr. Prasad Muglikar (Ruby Hall), and Sachin Kulkarni (VP, Sahyadri Hospital).

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Special Medical Lectures at 3:00 PM

Renowned health experts Dr. Jagannath Dixit, Dr. Pramod Jog, and Dr. Pradeep Awate will deliver keynote lectures addressing modern health challenges and solutions.

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Cultural Honors and Music Evening at 4:00 PM

A special felicitation ceremony will honor Dr. Neena Borade (PMC Health Chief), Dr. Hanumant Chavan, Dr. Sanjeev Vavare, Dr. Suryakant Devkar, and cardiologist Dr. Suraj Chavan. The session will be graced by Minister Madhuri Misal, MLA Hemant Rasane, former House Leader Dheeraj Ghate, and Health Deputy Director Dr. Bhagwan Pawar. A live performance by singer Amar Punekar will follow.

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Evening to Focus on Women’s Health, Rural Healthcare, and Stress Management

Book Launch on Women’s Health at 5:30 PM

The book ‘Stree Arogya Samruddh Kuruya’ (Enriching Women’s Health) will be launched by Sunita Raje Pawar (Maharashtra Sahitya Parishad), actor Sunil Godbole, educationist Sagar Dholaptil, and activist Trupti Desai. Attendees include musician Dr. Utkarsh Shinde, gynecologist Dr. Aishwarya Rewadkar, Pune Book Festival founder Rajesh Pandey, and former police officer Bhanupratap Berge.

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Debate on Urban and Rural Health Challenges at 6:30 PM

A crucial panel titled ‘Challenges in Urban and Rural Healthcare’ will feature prominent health journalists, with participation from retired ACP Milind Gaikwad, actors Suresh Vishwakarma and Ramesh Pardeshi, alongside speakers like Santosh Andhale, Vicky Pathare, Steffi Thevar, Dnyaneshwar Bhonde, and others.

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Stress-Free Living: A Special Talk at 7:30 PM

Actor and wellness advocate Dr. Sanjeev Kumar Patil will present an engaging session on ‘Living a Stress-Free Life’, with contributions from Dr. Rutuparna Shinde and Dr. Amol Devlekar.

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Grand Valedictory Ceremony at 8:00 PM

The closing ceremony will be held in the esteemed presence of Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Medha Kulkarni, District Collector Jitendra Dudi, and PMC Commissioner Naval Kishore Ram. Final speeches will be delivered by former IPS officer Chandrashekhar Daithankar, MLA Sunil Kamble, and Sammelan Chair Dr. Sanjay Oak.

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Pune Sets the Stage for a Historic Public Health Movement

The Arogya Sahitya Sammelan is not just an event—it’s a step forward in bringing health awareness to the mainstream through literature, conversation, and community engagement. With the powerful blend of medical expertise, cultural celebration, and political will, Pune is setting a benchmark in how cities can promote wellness holistically.