Srinagar, Jul 2 (KNS): The Gandhi Global Family (GGF) J&K, in association with Care Foundation Srinagar, on Thursday conferred the Iqbal Mir Memorial Awards at Tagore Hall here, honouring the legacy of a veteran Gandhian bureaucrat who had played a pivotal role in peace initiatives during the peak of militancy in the Valley.
The awards for the years 2019 to 2024—delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic—were presented by Principal Secretary Culture, B.M. Sharma, in the presence of GGF J&K President S.P. Varma. The recipients included Sheikh Firdous, Umer Wani, Vandana Daftari, Khalida Hanjoora, Peerzadi Masrat, and Dr. A. Tahir.
Special recognitions were also accorded to former Additional PCCF Farooq Geelani and Er. Kiran Wattal, former Managing Director of JKHB and ex-Municipal Commissioner Jammu, for their contributions to public welfare.
Shri Mohammad Iqbal Mir of Nishat, who rose from Assistant Director to serve as Protocol Officer, Joint Director H&P, and RTO Srinagar, was remembered as a bridge-builder who facilitated accommodation for peacemakers under Dr. Nirmala Deshpande’s peace mission during the troubled 1990s. He remained in service till his last breath, embodying Gandhian ideals of peace and selfless duty.
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Speaking on the occasion, Mr. Sharma hailed Shri Mir as an exemplar of governance as service, stressing that his life remained a beacon of communal harmony and administrative integrity.
The event saw a strong turnout of civil society members, including G.D. Shamim, Er. Bhupinder Singh Sodhi, Altaf Dar, Noor-ul-Amin, Kh. Sanaullah Tamiri, Shabir Ahmed Bhat, Reyaz Malik, Javed Jellani, Mst. Philip, and Paul Augustin, who collectively lauded GGF J&K's sustained efforts in upholding the values of the Mahatma.
Earlier, Dr. Mehjabeen Nabi delivered the welcome address, urging the younger generation to draw inspiration from Gandhian philosophy in their personal and professional lives. Er. Kiran Wattal also addressed the gathering, emphasising the need for continuity in service-oriented leadership.
The proceedings concluded with a vote of thanks proposed by Altaf Dar, Coordinator Srinagar, GGF J&K, as the gathering paid rich tributes to Shri Mir’s enduring belief that true success lies not in positions, but in selfless service to humanity. (KNS)