By News Agency of Kashmir
Srinagar : Gujjars of Jammu and Kashmir today celebrated conferment of third highest civilian award “Padam Bhushan” by Government of India to great saint and veteran Gujjar Leader Mian Bashir Ahmed. When news of conferring of “Padam Bushan” Award to Mian Ji was flashed thousands of Gujjars gathered at Bathandi residence of Mian Bashir and congratulated their saint for great attainment.
Mian Bashir Ahmed the most popular tribal leader of the State was born in November 1923 at Wanghat Kashmir is one of the great spiritual leader and religious personality across the sub continent. His followers are not in India and Pakistan but have a great following in Arab Countries and Europe as well.
Elected over four times in the State Legislative Assembly Mian Bashir Ahmed has been associated with Shiekh Mohammad Abdullah, Mir Qasim and Bakshi Ghulam Mohammad and has been a minister in their cabinet.
He has worked tearlessly for poors, nomads, especially for Gujjars and Bakerwal Community of the State and made them educationally conscious, socially alert and politically vibrant.
During 1965 and 1971 India-Pak conflict he has worked for peace and prosperity of the State and rehabilitated thousands of people in tribal and boarder belts of Jammu and Kashmir. During the course of ongoing insurgency since 1989 he has worked for eradicating the misconceptions between various communities of the State.
He has been closely associated with various top leaders of our country including Mrs. Indira Gandhi, Rajeev Gandhi, Shiekh Mohammed Abdullah and others.
Mian Bashir Ahmed represented the country in United Nations for establishing the peace in Kashmir, further he has been heading various delegations of country in different international forums.
He a moment in himself and has been influential in granting Scheduled Tribe Status to Gujjars and Bakerwals way back in 1991.
Since 1997 Mian Bashir Ahmed bid audio to active politics. He has been a great saint with having a huge following not only in Gujjars and Bakerwals the third largest Cultural Identities of the State but has tremendous followings among Pahari, Punjabi and Kashmiris of the State.
While addressing the people who greeted at his residence this morning to congratulate him our the conferring of Padam Bhushan Award Mian Bashir Ahmed said this award is not only for my tribe (which form 25% of population of J&K) my State but it goes to crores of Gujjars leaving in eleven States of India.?
He added that he will continue to work for social justice, human rights, peace and prosperity of the State.
He further added that he continue to be the part of great struggle of tribal their ethnic rights.
Stressing the need that people of India and Pakistan have to work as a bridge in order to create an environment of friendship and cordial relations between the two countries, Prominent saint has urged the need to have positively so that the environment of hatred and suspicions comes to an end and two countries of south Asia will create an example of peace and mutual brotherhood.