By TwoCircles.net staff reporter,
New Delhi: President of India, Pratibha Devisingh Patil, awarded the ‘Certificate of Honour’ to several scholars of Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit and Pali/Prakrit in New Delhi on 10th July. The awardees include three scholars each from Arabic and Persian. Fifteen Sanskrit scholars and one Pali/Prakrit scholar were also awarded.
According to press release, the Persian language scholars who were honoured are Professors Mohd. Sharaf-e-Alam, Mohaiuddin Gulam Rashul Bombaywala and Maria Bilquis. The honoured Arabic language scholars are Professors Mohsin Usmani and Shafiq Ahmad Khan and Maulana Habib Raihan Khan.
A scheme for the Award of the ‘Certificate of Honour’ was introduced in the year 1958 to honour the scholars of Sanskrit, Arabic and Persian languages. The scheme was extended to cover Pali/Prakrit in year 1996.
The distinction is conferred on the eve of Independence Day every year in recognition of the outstanding contribution of various scholars of eminence over 60 years of age, in the field of Sanskrit, Arabic, Persian or Pali/Prakrit. This scheme envisages a monetary grant of Rs. 50,000/- per annum for life, apart from a Sanad and a shawl, which is presented by the President to each awardee.
A Selection Committee had been constituted to scrutinize the proposals and make recommendations for the awards. The committee included Justice M N Venkatachaliah as chairman and Professors Ramaranjan Mukherjee, Radha Vallabh Tripathi, Moinuddin Azmi and Dr. Syeda Basheerunisa Begum as members.