Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha on Tuesday conferred the prestigious Lal Ded National Awards to prominent women for their remarkable accomplishments in various fields.
The award was conferred on contemporary Kashmiri poet Bimla Raina, Sahitya Akademi Award-winning poet Prof Naseem Shafaie, and scholar, author and Rajbhasha expert, Sakina Akhtar, at an event here, an official spokesman said.
BJP leader and Waqf Board chairperson Darakhshan Andrabi was also conferred with the award, he said.
The Lifetime Achievement Award was presented to eminent writer, academician, and translator Prof Neerja Mattoo, the spokesman said.
The award is named after Lalla Aarifa (Lal Ded), the 14th-century Kashmiri mystic poet and foundational figure of Kashmiri literature, who was also a Shaivite saint. The Lal Ded National Award highlight those individuals who promote communal harmony, unity and spirituality.
Speaking on the occasion, the LG said the Nari Shakti, honoured by the Lal Ded National Award, has achieved remarkable accomplishments in their respective fields.
He said the blessings of saints like Lal Ded have nurtured and preserved the nation’s vision, its arts, literature, music, folk traditions, and deep spiritual wisdom.
“By setting new standards in their fields, remarkable women achievers have helped shape the soul of society. Women empowerment must be a top priority for both society and government. We must also prioritise women in innovation and entrepreneurship so enterprises led by them become stronger,” he said.
Sinha said in today’s world, Lal Ded’s message can become a lifeline for humanity and her philosophy of compassion, truth, and morality is the foundation of a global society that seeks peace, inclusion, and fraternity.
“Lal Ded’s life teaches society that no matter how great the challenge, a person’s inner strength, faith, and courage can turn even the toughest trials into opportunities for growth and learning. Lal Ded became a beacon of hope for all seekers who dared to believe that humanity can truly become better and her ideals guided people toward a more harmonious world,” he said.
The LG observed that Nari Shakti exemplifies sacrifice, compassion, and equality, and it is a solemn duty of society and nation alike to secure full rights for women.
“I believe gender equality is a call for men to stand shoulder to shoulder with women and to be partners and allies, and to jointly build a just society and a developed India while fulfilling their responsibilities, he said.
I firmly believe that when women progress, families progress, and families progress, the nation progresses. Women play a crucial role in nation-building, and that is visible across every sphere of life, he added.
