Special Correspondent
Pune: The Constitution Honor Run 2025, a mini-marathon held in Pune to honor the Indian Constitution, witnessed an overwhelming response from participants across the globe. A total of 8,000 Puneites, alongside students from 40 countries, took part in this significant event, which took place on January 28, 2025. The run was organized by a coalition of prestigious organizations, including the Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Cultural Festival Committee Pune, Dr. Babasaheb Ambedkar Research and Training Institute (BARTI), the Department of Defence and Strategic Studies at Savitribai Phule Pune University, Pune District Amateur Athletics Association, and the Constitution Foundation.
The event, aimed at celebrating the importance of the Indian Constitution, was inaugurated at the Khasaba Jadhav Sports Complex at Savitribai Phule Pune University. The opening ceremony was graced by several dignitaries, including Vice-Chancellor of the University Dr. Suresh Gosavi, Director of BARTI Sunil Ware, Chief Organizer Parshuram Wadekar, Dr. Vijay Khare, and Shailesh Bhandari. The event began with the ceremonial reading of the Preamble to the Constitution of India.
Union Minister of Social Justice and Empowerment, Ramdas Athawale, was present to honor the winners of the marathon, awarding them medals, certificates, and cash prizes. Prominent figures including MLA Siddharth Shirole, RPI City President Sanjay Sonawane, Pro-Vice-Chancellor Dr. Parag Kalakar, Registrar Jyoti Bhakre, BARTI Registrar Indira Aswar, and former Deputy Mayor of Pune Sunita Parshuram Wadekar were also in attendance.
In his address, Union Minister Ramdas Athawale lauded the role of the Indian Constitution in the nation’s progress, stating, “The Constitution is our pride. The run began at 6 AM in the dark, and as the winners emerged with the rising sun, it symbolized how our Constitution has guided us from darkness to light. It is truly inspiring to witness students, women, and international participants coming together to honor it.”
The marathon featured three categories: under-16, under-18, and open, with race distances of 3 km, 5 km, and 10 km. The event also included special races for differently-abled participants, with Automatic and Manual Wheelchair Races.
Winners of Constitution Honor Run 2025:
10 km (Men):
1st Place – Ankush Hakke
2nd Place – Tushar Binnar
3rd Place – Nilesh Rachikar
10 km (Women):
1st Place – Sakshi Jadyal
2nd Place – Yamini Thakre
3rd Place – Sheetal Tambe
5 km (Men):
1st Place – Harshad Kadam
2nd Place – Anupam Singh Sinha
3rd Place – Ganesh Dongre
5 km (Women):
1st Place – Rani Muchandi
2nd Place – Sakshi Borade
3rd Place – Priyanka Oksa
3 km (Men):
1st Place – Ajay Singh
2nd Place – Abhishek Gulvile
3rd Place – Adinath Salunkhe
3 km (Women):
1st Place – Anushka Amardeep Shinde
2nd Place – Aditi Dhananjay Hargude
3rd Place – Aditi Somnath Tambe
Differently-abled Wheelchair Race:
1st Place – Mohammad Fayyaz Alam
2nd Place – Anil Kumar Kacchi
3rd Place – Suresh Kumar Karki
4th Place – Y. Nijalinge
The Constitution Honor Run 2025 successfully brought together individuals from diverse backgrounds to pay tribute to India’s Constitution, highlighting its pivotal role in shaping the nation’s values and progress.
