The community should set its own welfare agenda, instead of depending on govt schemes and reservations
– Anwarulhaq Baig
New Delhi, October 16: Several eminent personalities from various fields were honored with the ‘Vatan Ke Ratan Awards: 2023’ in recognition of their exceptional contributions to society. The award ceremony was hosted by a Delhi-based media organization, Watan Samachar Group, on Sunday at the Press Club of India here, marking the birth anniversary of former President of India, Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam, the ‘Missile Man’ and recipient of Bharat Ratna award. Dr. Abdul Kalam was born on October 15, 1931, in Rameswaram, Tamil Nadu.
In a conversation with Radiance, journalist Muhammad Ahmad, founder of Watan Samachar Group, informed that this year’s ‘Vatan Ke Ratan Awards’ were presented to the following individuals: Dr. Meraj Hussain, the national convener of Volunteers Against Hate; Advocate Sapna Dixit, a senior Supreme Court lawyer; Kamil Azizi Saeedi, founder of Amrit Ved; Advocate Ubaidullah; Muhammad Fakhr Imam of Sahara Group; Mohammad Mustaqeem Khan, Editor of Siyasi Takdeer; Ajay Pandey; Javed Ashraf; Nidhi Opadhyay; Chaudhry Aurangzeb; Azharuddin; Shadab Ahmed; Shayan Ishkar; Dr. Zubaidur Rehman, also known as Babban Mian; and Advocate Nitin.
According to Muhammad Ahmad, the Watan Samachar group honors notable persons every year for their outstanding contributions.
Prominent figures, such as veteran journalist and defense expert Qamar Agha, Mirza Qamar Hasan Baig, Chairman of the Jamia Cooperative Bank, Dr. Syed Ahmed Khan, Secretary General of the All India Unani Tibbi Congress (AIUTC), as well as social workers and philanthropists, including Dr. Muhammad Tajuddin Ansari, Mahmud Khan, Muhammad Tahir Siddiqi, and Dr. Zubair Rahman (Babban Miyan), attended the ceremony.
Emphasizing Dr. Kalam’s dedication and hard work as the key to his success, Qamar Agha stressed the importance of following Dr. Kalam’s vision and viewpoint to propel the country forward. He pointed out that a community or group that depends solely on the government for its development never truly succeeds, citing examples from the current conditions of Dalits and tribals. According to him, not many have benefited, aside from a few individuals who have gained from reservation and government schemes. Instead of focusing on reservation policies, government schemes, or funds, he suggested that the community members should set their own welfare agenda and drive it forward.
Hailing Dr. Kalam’s remarkable achievements despite his humble background as the son of an imam, Mirza Qamar Hasan expressed concern about the current trend of religious divisions in the country and urged people to embrace humanity, love, and compassion to uplift the nation. Encouraging people to offer support and be beneficial to all, including the country, he said, “We have no value unless we engage in good deeds at the community level.”
Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Tajuddin Ansari encouraged the establishment of educational institutions at the grassroots level and better training for the younger generation.
Highlighting the significance of collective efforts for India’s progress and prosperity, Mr. Tahir Siddiqui underscored the need to eliminate social evils, ultimately leading to a prosperous and well-developed nation.
The event, which was attended by a large number of participants, was co-anchored by Mohammad Ahmed and Dr. Vibhu Kumari.
