The Sabha in association with the South Indian Education Society organised the function to felicitate extra-ordinary “ordinary people” who did not succumb to fear and showed tremendous courage of conviction and service in the face of most trying circumstances that the corona pandemic gave. The Union Government promulgated nationwide lockdown on 25th March 2020 as part of its overall strategy in the war against corona to effectively contain the transmission of the virus. On 25th March 2023 in observance of the third anniversary of the commencement of the pandemic, both the institutions felicitated eight champions of humanity, foot soldiers and shining stars of our generation for their phenomenal work during the pandemic. Shri. Ramesh Bais, the Hon’ble Governor of Maharashtra presided over the function and presented the Spirit of Mumbai Awards.

On 6th August 2005, both the institutions honoured 26 of them as we celebrated the “Spirit of Mumbai”, as unprecedented floods ravaged the city and grinded it to a halt. The terrible Tuesday of 11th July 2006 which saw 7 serial blasts that ripped the city’s lifeline, the Suburban Railway Network killing 186 people and injuring over 700 also had amazing stories of humanity on that long and fearful night. Again they were honoured at a function on 15th August 2006. Mumbai’s tryst with terror left a deep wound. The terror attack between 26th and 29th November 2008 plunged the city into darkness, anguish, grief and an unprecedented sense of rage. The institutions paid their homage to the martyrs and also honoured 38 men and women who stood by Mumbai in those 60 hours of need and conferred on them the Spirit of Mumbai Awards at a glittering function on 5th December 2008. Shri. S. C. Jamir, the then Governor of Maharashtra presided over the function. In continuation of that tradition, the Spirit of Mumbai Awards were conferred on Covid warriors. The award carried a trophy, a citation, a special shawl, a Tanjore painting, a gold coated brass lamp and national flag mounted on a brass stand.