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Tribals in J&K celebrate award for Gujjar leader

Staff Reporter

Jammu: The tribals of Jammu and Kashmir are celebrating the conferment of ‘Padma Bhushan’ on veteran Gujjar leader Mian Bashir Ahmed.

Thousands of Gujjars and Bakerwals have been gathering at the Bathindi residence of Mian Bashir to greet their spiritual leader.

The 84-year-old Mr. Ahmed has followers not only in India and Pakistan but also in the Arab countries and Europe.

Mr. Ahmed said the award was not only for his tribe but to Gujjars living in 11 States. He would continue to work for social justice, human rights, peace and prosperity of the State.

Elected to the State Assembly four times, he has worked tirelessly for the Gujjar and Bakerwal communities and made them socially alert, politically vibrant and conscious of the importance of education.

I feel humbled: Mattoo

Jammu University Vice-Chancellor Amitabh Mattoo, who has been awarded the Padma Shri, said he felt humbled. “To me, this is an honour for all the people here who have worked towards making the University a world class institution and contributing towards bringing peace in the region by encouraging people-to-people contacts and linkages beyond the border.”

An alumnus of Oxford and Jawaharlal Nehru universities, Dr. Mattoo is a member of the task force constituted by Prime Minister on Global Strategic Developments.

Renowned Kashmiri writer Mohammad Yousuf Taing has been given the Padma Shri for his contribution to Literature and Education.

“My purpose has always been to represent 5,000 years of composite and secular personality of Kashmir through literature and put it in the right historical and contemporary perspective,” he said.

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