Chhattisgarh, December 13, 2025: Eminent educator, author, cultural ambassador and social reformer Dr. Munna Lal Devdas has been conferred the prestigious Ashoka National Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 in the category of Educational, Social and Cultural Activism. The award, instituted by Blue Star Event, Nashik, recognises his lifelong dedication to education, cultural preservation and social upliftment.
Dr. Devdas, a native of Kopra village in Chhattisgarh, served for 36 years (1987–2023) as a teacher and Headmaster, during which he played a key role in strengthening rural education through discipline, innovation and value-based learning. His outstanding contribution to the education sector was earlier recognised at the national level when he received the President’s National Teacher Award in 2007, presented by the then President of India, Smt. Pratibha Devisingh Patil.
An accomplished author and cultural historian, Dr. Devdas has written 18 motivational and cultural books and published several research articles focusing on the heritage, traditions and social ethos of Chhattisgarh. His literary and cultural work has earned him multiple national and international Book of Records honours, including a world-record recognition for documenting 75 years of the Prabhat Bhajan tradition.
Among his notable recent achievements is his documentation of the Daily National Anthem Initiative of Shyam Nagar village in Gariaband district, where the National Anthem has been played every morning at 9:00 a.m. since 26 January 2018. His publication, “Shyamnagar Me Rashtragaan Ki Anuthi Parampara”, formally recorded this unique civic practice and played a significant role in securing its inclusion in The Ideal Indian Book of Records, along with recognition from other record platforms.
Dr. Devdas is also known for his contributions to social reform, including initiatives against animal sacrifice and efforts to promote cultural harmony. His devotional and cultural compositions, performed by renowned artists, have helped bring Chhattisgarh’s cultural identity to national prominence.
The Ashoka National Lifetime Achievement Award 2025 acknowledges Dr. Munna Lal Devdas’s enduring legacy as a dedicated educator and a leading figure in educational, social and cultural development.
