He said Maharashtra is not only a hub of industry and business, but also culture and art.
Maharashtra has always been in the forefront on social reforms and freedom struggle. It has shown the way for others in the country in respect of women's education and empowerment of Dalits, he said.
"Maharashtra is the 'karmabhoomi' (the land where one works) of many revolutionaries, social reformers and saints. The list of great social and political leaders produced by the state, from their many streams, is a long one and includes Shivaji Maharaj, Chhatrapati Sahu Ji, Guru Ramdas, Tatya Tope, Sant Dnyaneshwar, Sant Tukaram, Jyotiba Phule, Gopal Krishna Gokhale, Bal Gangadhar Tilak, Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar, Dr Keshav Baliram Hedgewar and Acharya Vinoba Bhave," he said.
Maharashtra was one of the main centres of the freedom struggle. Many important chapters of the freedom movement, including the 'Quit India Movement' of 1942, were written in Maharashtra. Mahatma Gandhi regarded Gokhale as his Guru and made Wardha in the Nagpur division his work place, he said.
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Kovind appreciated the contribution made by noted poet late Suresh Bhatt in popularising and promoting Marathi culture, literature and arts.
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