We are so happy to bring back Shri Uday Deshpande, popularly known as ‘Mallakhamb Vishwa Guru’ is the recipient of the prestigious ‘Padma Shri’ Award by the Government of India for the distinguished contribution in Mallakhamb. The Award was declared on 25th January 2024. It was conferred by Ms. Droupadi Murmu, President of India at Rashtrapati Bhavan on 9th May 2024.
He was the leader of the seven-member team of Mallakhamb Players which included four Visually Challenged Students which performed Mallakhamb Demonstration at India House during the Paris Olympics from 27th July to 11th August 2024.
He is the Honorary General Secretary and Chief Coach of 99 years old premier & pioneer Physical Education Institution Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir, Dadar, for last 43 years. He is also the Founder Director and Honorary Secretary of Vishwa Mallakhamb Federation, through which he conducted two International Mallakhamb World Championships, in which 15 countries participated. He is instrumental in the formation of National Mallakhamb Federations in different countries. He has also developed the international ‘Rule Book’ of Mallakhamb and conducted International Judging Workshops. He is credited to train over 5000 Mallakhamb enthusiasts from more than 52 Countries, and has conducted several Mallakhamb Workshops covering 3 continents Asia, Europe and USA. To popularize and propagate Mallakhamb, under his able leadership, more than 5000 demonstrations were performed in India and many parts of the world. He took Mallakhamb to the doorstep of orphans, delinquents, differently abled, visually-challenged, enriching their quality of life. He is the key person to Promote Mallakhamb in all Districts of Maharashtra and all States of India and had worked relentlessly for the recognition of Mallakhamb by Govt. of India, Indian Olympic Association, and the Railway Ministry of India. His relentless writing on Mallakhamb in many languages took Mallakhamb to masses.
He has mentored 15 Shiv Chhatrapati awardee Players, 3 Shiv Chhatrapati Best Coach Awardees, including one Mallakhamb Arjun award winner. He himself is the recipient of the Shiv Chhatrapati award as an organiser, Dadoji Kondadev Award as a Coach and Lifetime Achievement award by the Government of Maharashtra, along with 50 other National and International awards.
With unflagging zeal, he has rendered more than 50 years of Honorary service to the society. Previously employed with Customs and Central Excise, he retired as Deputy Commissioner in 2013. Even today, at the age of 70, he conducts free Mallakhamb classes at Shree Samartha Vyayam Mandir.
Thanks to the sacrifices of Uday Deshpande, a true movement towards ‘समथर् भारत, सशक्त भारत, वसुधैव कुटुंबकं’ has begun.
