By TwoCircles.net staff reporter
New Delhi: “Kabir Puraskar” or Kabir Award is awarded each year to promote communal harmony by recognizing acts of physical or moral courage during communal or caste conflicts. This year the award goes to Khalifa Gufran of Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh.
In a statement released by the Ministry of Home Affairs Mr. Gufran was praised for his courage and helping the district administration in diffusing tense situations on more than one occasion.
In Saharanpur on August 8th, 2006 a verbal duel between Muslims and Dalits over a petty matter soon turned into scuffle and violence. Khalifa Gufran saved two injured Dalit youths from a Muslim mob and helped the administration getting a situation out of hand.
On November 24th of the same year he along with some other people averted a possible communal riot in Saharanpur.
Again, on July 27th of 2007 persons of Hindu and Muslim communities collected at Mohalla Jatavnagar and started pelting stones on each other. Shri Khalifa Gufran reached there with his friends and helped the district authorities in restoring peace and normalcy.
Mr. Khalifa Gufran is a tireless soldier of peace, for a number of years he has been taking active part in promoting communal harmony and has been proactively assisting the district administration in maintaining peace and communal harmony during Hindu – Muslim festivals.
“Kabir Puraskar” was instituted to promote communal harmony by recognising acts of physical/moral courage and humanity exhibited by members of one community in saving lives and properties of the members of another community during communal riots, caste conflicts or ethnic clashes.
The Award is given annually in three grades viz., Grade-I, Grade-II and Grade-III, carrying cash amount of Rs. 2,00,000; Rs.1,00,000 and Rs. 50,000 respectively.
Mr. Gufran a resident of 4/715, Gali Halwaiyan, Moh. Chowki Sarai, PS – Kotwali City, Saharanpur, Uttar Pradesh is awarded in Grade-III category.